§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what would be the additional cost in the next financial year to public funds(a) in benefits and (b)in administrative costs of providing entitlement to winter fuel payment to all persons on reaching their 60th birthday if it falls during the months of October to March inclusive, on the assumption that those with birthdays in other months would continue to receive payment in the winter after attaining age 60. [155327]
§ Malcolm WicksIf all those reaching their 60th birthday in the months of October 2003 to March 2004 were to receive a winter fuel payment for the winter of 2003–04, the additional cost would be approximately £47 million. We are unable to provide figures for the additional administrative costs that this would incur.
§ Mr. HepburnTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many British citizens not resident in the UK received Winter Fuel Payments in respect of 2003–04; how many of those previously resided in(a) the Jarrow constituency,(b)South Tyneside, (c)Tyne and Wear, (d) the North East and (e) the UK; and what the value of such payments was in each case. [153230]
324W
§ Malcolm WicksThe information requested is not available. Such information that is available is as follows:
So far 14,696 people no longer resident in the United Kingdom have received Winter Fuel Payments for the period winter 2003–04, at a cost of £2,235,700. Citizenship does not affect entitlement to Winter Fuel Payment as entitlement is based on residency in the UK.