Written question asked by Lord Hardy of Wath , in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 29 January 1997. It was answered by Roger Evans (Conservative) on Wednesday, 29 January 1997 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: If he will revise the arrangements in regard to the determination of areas as qualifying for cold weather payments; and what factors underlay the lack of cold weather payments to the most exposed areas of the Wentworth constituency.

Answer: Mr. Hardy: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will revise the arrangements in regard to the determination of areas as qualifying for cold weather payments; and what factors underlay the lack of cold weather payments to the most exposed areas of the Wentworth constituency. [12963] Mr. Evans: Each year after March, the cold weather payments scheme is reviewed in consultation with the Meterological Office, making full use of its advice and expert meterological knowledge. Representations from hon. Members will be considered as part of the annual review. It is not the intention of the scheme to reflect precisely all local temperature variations, but to achieve national coverage with a reasonable degree of local sensitivity. Cold weather payments are made when the average temperature is recorded as, or forecast to be, 0 deg C below over seven consecutive days in any weather station area.

Secondary information