§ Baroness Greengrossasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the estimated annual cost of paying the winter fuel payment to British pensioners who do not live in the United Kingdom; and how many will benefit in 2003–04. [HL1056]
§ Baroness Hollis of HeighamPeople who are entitled to a winter fuel payment while living in the UK may be able to continue to receive winter fuel payments if they move to another European economic area (EEA) country. Our broad estimate for 2003–04 is that some 69,000 people could be so entitled at a cost of up to £11 million. This estimate will be revised when we have sufficient data on actual payments made to entitled recipients living in another EEA country.