HC Deb 05 May 2000 vol 349 cc254-5W
Mr. Willetts

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the total costs for(a) each of the past two years, (b) the current year and (c) projected for each of the next two years, broken down into administrative and non-administrative costs and including the cost of the telephone helplines. [121043]

Mr. Rooker

The information is in the table.

Administration and non-administration cost for the winter fuel payment scheme
£
Year Non-administration costs Administration costs
1997–98 200 million 13.7 million
1998–99 200 million 13.1 million
1999–2000 760 million 14.3 million
2000–01 1.4 billion1 Not yet available2
2001–02 1.2 billion1 Not yet available2
1 Includes the cost of making backdated payments as a result of changes to the eligibility rules.
2 Projected figures are not available for these years as the process details are not yet finalised.