§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what preparations had been made for the delivery of Winter Fuel Payments on the assumption that the rate of payment would be £150; and what administrative costs arose from the timing of the decision that the rate of payment would be £200. [140305]
§ Mr. RookerThe system for delivering Winter Fuel Payments is sufficiently flexible to enable changes to the level of the benefit to be readily accommodated. The first of the increased payments went out during week commencing 13 November, the week after my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's announcement. Work is on-going to assess the administration costs of the change.