§ Brian CotterTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners(a) were eligible for, (b) applied for and (c) received the Winter Fuel Payment in the constituency of Weston-super-Mare in each year since its inception. [165601]
§ Malcolm WicksThe number of people in the Weston-super-Mare constituency who received Winter Fuel Payments each year since 1999–2000 (including provisional figures for 2003–04) is in the table. I regret that information relating to the 1997–98 and 1998–99 schemes is not available. Nor is it possible to say how many have applied each year but were not eligible. Without establishing their circumstances it is not possible to say how many others would have been entitled to payments but did not apply.
Number of payments made 1999–2000 20,770 2000–01 22,605 2001–02 22,830 2002–03 23,230 2003–04 23,345 Notes: 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5. 2. The majority of pensioners do not need to apply because they receive their Winter Fuel Payment automatically. Source: IAD Information center, 100 per cent. sample.