Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments – 9 March 1987

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments on 9th March 1987.

Mr. Kirkwood Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the operation of this year’s severe weather payment scheme; and whether he is able to estimate the level of uptake of this year’s scheme.

Mr. Major We are satisfied that the new rules for exceptionally cold weather payments are simpler and easier to understand and that as a result of widespread publicity more people have been helped this winter and payments have been made far more quickly than under any previous system of exceptionally severe weather payments. It is not yet possible to make an estimate of take-up among eligible groups.

Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many claimants have now received £10 severe weather payments in Scotland.

Mr. Major Information is not available in the form requested.

Up to 3 March 1987 some 285,000 £5 exceptionally cold weather payments were made in Scotland.