HC Deb 03 November 2003 vol 412 c473W
Mr. Betts

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for how many days in each of the last five years Cold Weather Payments were made to residents whose homes were allocated to the(a) Leeds and (b) Nottingham weather stations. [135087]

Mr. Pond

Cold Weather Payments (CWPs) provide extra help to vulnerable people towards the additional costs of heating which result from a period of very cold weather in the area where they live. If the average recorded or forecast temperatures fall to 0C or below over seven consecutive days, CWPs are automatically triggered. The payments continue to be made for each seven day period that the relevant temperature criteria are met.

Since 1998–99 CWPs were made once, during 2001–02, to eligible residents whose homes were covered by the Leeds weather station. Over the same period, CWPs were made twice during 2000–01 and once during 2001–02 to eligible residents whose homes were covered by the Nottingham weather station.