Winter Fuel Payment (Hansard, 29 January 2001)

§ 16. Mr. Sarwar
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the timetable for payment of the winter fuel allowance. [145974]

§ Mr. Rooker
Our aim is to make sure that this winter elderly people do not worry about turning up their heating in cold weather. As promised, the vast majority of payments were made to elderly households before Christmas.

§ 32. Mr. Simon Hughes
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of eligible pensioners whose Winter Fuel Payments in the current financial year(a) were delayed and (b) have not been paid. [145991]

§ Mr. Rooker
As promised, for this winter the vast majority of Winter Fuel Payments were automatically made before Christmas to those found to be entitled.
For those who need to claim the payment, this will be paid once entitlement has been established.

§ Mr. Willetts
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what action he will take to ensure that people aged 60 years and over will be given prior notification of the £50 reduction in this year's Winter Fuel Payment. [146354]

§ Mr. Rooker
The Winter Fuel Payment which the hon. Member opposes has proved to be extremely popular. We shall announce our proposals for this winter in due course.

§ Mr. Davidson
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how much it would cost to extend the annual Winter Fuel Payments to those aged under 60 years who receive the middle or higher rates of Disability Living Allowance; and if he will make a statement. [146738]

§ Mr. Rooker
The estimated cost of my hon. Friend's suggestion is £150 million, each year.

§ Mr. Winnick
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the(a) number and (b) percentage of (i) male and (ii) female pensioners that would be at a financial disadvantage if the winter fuel allowance and the free television licence for over-75-year-olds was consolidated in the State Pension. [145524]

§ Mr. Rooker
[holding answer 15 January 2001]: We estimate that at least 5.8 million (or 55 per cent. of) pensioners would be at a financial disadvantage. The figure breaks down to 2.2 million (or 56 per cent. of) men, and 3.6 million (or 54 per cent. of) women.
The 5.8 million includes 3.6 million poorer pensioners claiming one or more income-related benefits (Income Support, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit).

§ Mr. Chaytor
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the total cost of the Winter Fuel Payments scheme in 2000–01 will be; what would be the total additional costs of making these payments to all households eligible for Social Fund cold weather payments; and if he will make a statement. [147814]

§ Mr. Rooker
The total cost of the Winter Fuel Payment scheme in 2000–01 is expected to be around £1.7 billion.
83W
The estimated additional costs of making this winter's payment to all households eligible for Social Fund Cold Weather Payments would be around £300 million.
Note:
Figures rounded to the nearest £5 million.