§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many men aged 60 to 64 received a winter fuel payment in each of the last two winters; and how many men in this age group have applied for a payment for this year. [88200]
§ Mr. McCartneyAround 1.1 million men aged 60 to 64 received winter fuel payments in each of the last two winters (2000–01 and 2001–02). This winter, men aged 60 to 64 will have received a winter fuel payment automatically if they were receiving a social security benefit (excluding child benefit, housing benefit and1036W council tax benefit) in the qualifying week, or they had received a winter fuel payment last year and their circumstances had not changed. People who are not entitled to an automatic payment need to make a claim. We are currently unable to identify the number of men in this age group who have claimed so far this year, but we may be able to do so by May 2003 once the final administrative data is available.