§ Ms KeebleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, by constituency,(a) the number of people who received and (b) the amount of money received in (i) Cold Weather Payments for the years 1995–96 and 1996–97 and (ii) Winter Fuel Allowances in 1998–99 and 1999–2000. [132376]
§ Angela EagleThe administration of Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments are matters for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Ms Sally Keeble, dated 28 July 2000:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking if he will list, by constituency, (a) the number of people who received and (b) the amount of money received in (1) cold weather payments for the years 1995–96 and 1996–97 and (2) winter fuel allowances in 1998–99 and 1999–2000.1068WThe CWP information is collected on the estimated number of qualifying individuals (which includes non pensioner customers) and by weather station area rather than Benefits Agency district or constituency areas. The weather stations cover wide areas, and therefore may encroach on more than one constituency. It is not possible to provide a breakdown by constituency area.Winter Fuel Payments were introduced in the winder of 1997–98 and help pensioners with the cost of their winter fuel bills. They are paid in addition to any Cold Weather Payments that may be due.The information requested has been placed in the House of Commons library.I hope this is helpful.
§ Angela SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much was paid in Cold Weather Payments in the Basildon constituency in each year from 1990 to 1997. [132640]
§ Angela EagleThe administration of Cold Weather Payments is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Angela Smith, dated 28 July 2000:
The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much was paid in cold weather payments in the Basildon constituency in each year from 1990 to 1997.Cold Weather Payments (CWP) are paid to people awarded Income Support (IS) or income-based Jobseekers Allowance (JSA(IB)) with a pensioner or disability premium or if they have a child under 5, when the temperature criterion is met for their postcode. Payment is issued automatically without the need to claim.The CWP information is collected on the number of qualifying individuals (which includes non pensioners) and by weather station area rather than Benefits Agency district or constituency areas.During the period in question, the weather stations at Stansted and Manston were used to serve the Basildon Constituency. The figures that are available are for the whole weather station areas, which included parts of other constituencies. Therefore the payments for Basildon only cannot be provided. The information available is in the attached table.I hope this is helpful.
Estimated qualifiers and total expenditure on Cold Weather Payments since the winter of 1990 to 1997 at the weather stations to which Basildon constituency has been linked Year Weather station Number of qualifiers Total expenditure (£) 1990–91 Stansted 1— 1— 1991–92 Stansted 1— 1— 1992–93 Stansted 1— 1— 1993–94 Stansted 1— 1— 1994–95 Stansted 85,445 0 1995–96 Stansted 89,855 3,055,070 1996–97 Stansted and Manston 43,394 and 79,041 2,450,244 1997–98 Stansted and Manston 40,720 and 77,876 0 1 Not known Notes
1. No payment data are held for periods prior to 1995–96
2. Figures for number of qualifiers includes non-pensioners
3. An estimate of the number of pensioners among the qualifiers is not available
4. The weather station at Manston only covered postcodes in the Basildon constituency from 1996–97; from 1996–97 both weather stations were used to cover different parts of the constituency
5. One period of cold weather was triggered at Stansted weather station in 1990–91
6. One period of cold weather was triggered at Stansted weather station in 1991–92
7. One period of cold weather was triggered at Stansted weather station in 1992–93
1069W8. No periods of cold weather were triggered at Stansted weather station in 1993–94 and 1994–95
9. Four periods of cold weather were triggered at Stansted weather station in 1995–96
10. Three periods of cold weather were triggered at Stansted and two at Manston in 1996–97
11. No periods of cold weather were triggered at Manston Stansted in 1997–98
12. All postcode districts and the weather stations which currently serve them are detailed in Schedule 1 of the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Amendment Regulations 1999
13. Numbers of qualifiers are per period of cold weather
§ Mr. EnnisTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much has been paid out in winter fuel allowances to people in Barnsley East and Mexborough from 1997–98 to 1999–2000. [133745]
§ Angela EagleThis is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, the Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. Jeff Ennis, dated 28 July 2000:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how much has been paid out in winter fuel allowances to people in Barnsley East and Mexborough from 1997–98 to 1999–2000.Winter Fuel Payments (WFP) were introduced in the winter of 1997/98. For the winters of 1997/98 and 98/99 eligible people receiving Income Support (IS) or income based Jobseekers' Allowance (JSA (IB)) which included a pensioner premium, who were not living in residential care or a nursing home received payments of £50. All other eligible pensioners received £20 or £10 depending on their household circumstances. Where only one eligible pensioner lived in the household they would receive £20, otherwise they would receive £10 each. Last winter, 1999/00 the amount of the payment increased to £100 for all eligible households.In 1997/98, WFP expenditure for Barnsley East and Mexborough constituency was £323,800; in 1998/99, it was £291,570; and in 1999/00, it was £1,164,900.I hope this is helpful.
Mr. Michael J. FosterTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many over 60s in(a) Worcester and (b) Mid Worcester qualify for the winter fuel allowance. [133768]
§ Angela EagleLast winter (1999–2000) 16,715 clients in the Mid Worcestershire constituency and 15,040 in the Worcester constituency, qualified for Winter Fuel Payment of either £100 or £50, dependant on their circumstances. This figure includes those in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits as well as men from age 60 who qualified through receipt of either Income Support or income-based Jobseekers' Allowance.
My hon. Friend will know that the Winter Fuel Payment scheme has now been extended so that men as well as women will be eligible for a payment from age 60, providing they satisfy the qualifying criteria. The changes apply from the beginning of the scheme in 1997–98 and payments will be made for past winters to customers who are entitled. The majority of the customers who are newly eligible will need to make a claim.
This will mean the figure given above in respect of 1999–2000 could be higher for winter 2000. How much higher will depend on the number of people who decide to make a claim and how many are entitled.
1070WTherefore, it is not possible to give my hon. Friend a precise number of customers who may now qualify for payment in Mid Worcestershire and Worcester until claim forms are returned and processed.
§ Mr. Peter BradleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many over 60s in The Wrekin qualify for the Winter Fuel Allowance. [133197]
§ Angela EagleFor winter 1999–2000, 13,617 customers in The Wrekin qualified for a Winter Fuel Payment of either £100 or £50, dependant on their circumstances. This figure includes those in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits as well as men from age 60 who qualified through receipt of either Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance.
My hon. Friend will know that the Winter Fuel Payment scheme has now been extended so that men as well as women will be eligible for a payment from age 60, providing they satisfy the qualifying criteria. The changes apply from the beginning of the scheme in 1997–98 and payments will be made for past winters to customers who are entitled. The majority of the customers who are newly eligible will need to make a claim.
This will mean the figure given in respect of 1999–2000 could be higher for winter 2000. How much higher will depend on the number of people who decide to make a claim and how many are entitled.
Therefore, it is not possible to give my hon. Friend a precise number of who may now qualify for payment in The Wrekin until claim forms are returned and processed.