Written question asked by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Wednesday, 9 May 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 11 May 2001. It was answered by Lord Rooker (Labour) on Friday, 11 May 2001 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, what estimate he has made of the number of people eligible for a non-automatic winter fuel payment for Winter 2000 who did not claim the benefit. - Includes figures.

Answer: Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimate he has made of the number of people eligible for a non-automatic Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2000 who did not claim the benefit. [161048] Mr. Rooker: Around 1.3 million people have made successful claims for Winter Fuel Payments in respect of winter 2000 out of a possible 1.5 million people that might have been eligible. An information campaign has been running since last April. Its aim has been to ensure that existing and potential customers know about changes to the scheme and what, if anything, they needed to do to get a payment. It was up to the individual to choose whether to claim a payment.

Secondary information