Written question asked by Alan Simpson (Labour) on Tuesday, 1 July 2003, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 8 July 2003. It was answered by Malcolm Wicks (Labour) on Tuesday, 8 July 2003 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Dept for Work and Pensions

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will estimate the cost of extending the winter fuel payment to the poorest and most vulnerable households who qualify for cold weather payments; and whether his Department plans such a measure. -Including figures.

Answer: Alan Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the cost of extending the winter fuel payment to the poorest and most vulnerable households who qualify for cold weather payments; and whether his Department plans such a measure. [123491] Malcolm Wicks: Most people receiving income support including minimum income guarantee or income-based jobseeker's allowance who are aged 60 or over already receive winter fuel payments. If winter fuel payments were extended to other people who meet the criteria for cold weather payments, regardless of whether the temperature fell low enough to trigger payment of a cold weather payment to that household, the additional annual cost would be around £300 million. We have no plans to extend the winter fuel payment scheme. Note: Figure rounded to nearest £50 million and calculated from administrative data.

Secondary information