AQW 41961/11-15

Ms Claire Sugden
Independent
East Londonderry

Tabled Date: 09/02/2015
Answered On Date: 17/02/2015
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Social Development to detail the number of cold weather payments since 1 November 2014, broken down by constituency.

Answer:

The information is not available in the format requested as Cold Weather Payments cannot be broken down by constituency. A Cold Weather Payment is triggered when the average temperature has been recorded, or is forecast to be zero degrees centigrade or below for 7 consecutive days between November and March at any of Met Office’s seven weather stations. The weather stations are located across Northern Ireland and cover a range of designated post code areas. Only those eligible claimants living in the postcode areas covered by the relevant weather station where the average temperature has been recorded or forecast to be zero degrees centigrade or below for 7 consecutive days will receive a payment.

One Cold Weather Payment has been triggered since 1 November 2014 based on temperature recordings at the Katesbridge weather station during the period 16-22 January 2015. An estimated 15,055 people living in postcode areas BT24-26 and BT30-34 have received the £25 payment.