Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments – 10 February 1987

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments on 10th February 1987.

Mr. Geraint Howells Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied with the present form of the exceptionally severe weather payments system; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Major Yes. The new arrangements are a significant improvement on previous schemes for exceptionally severe weather payments, in terms of simplicity, comprehensibility and certainty of payment. From 26 January we have changed the qualifying temperature from minus 1.5 deg C to 0 deg C over a fixed seven-day period. Under the revised arrangement help for vulnerable groups during exceptionally cold weather can be expected to be given more often than under any previous system. The review now provides the most generous system ever for helping vulnerable groups during exceptionally cold weather.

Ms. Richardson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time before payment of the severe weather allowance, once payment has been triggered for a given area.

Mr. Major Information on clearance times for exceptionally cold weather claims is not available.
However, local offices have been instructed to give priority to cold weather payments and to deal with claims immediately on receipt.

Mr. Rogers Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many of the chosen weather stations the severe weather payments trigger temperature of minus 1.5 deg C was achieved in the weeks 5 to 11 January and 12 January to 18 January.

Mr. Major In the week 5 to 11 January, one weather station achieved the trigger temperature of minus 1.5 deg C. In the week 12 to 18 January, 48 weather stations achieved that temperature.