The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

1983-1987 Parliament

Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments – 20 January 1987

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Severe Weather Payments on 20th January 1987.


Mr. Meacher Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give (a) the daily mean temperature and (b) the weekly mean temperature for each of the weather stations used for calculating severe weather payments for the week 12 January to 18 January.

Mr. Major I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Wilson Asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many severe weather payments were made in 1986 in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales; what was the total amount involved in each country; and what was the average individual payment in each country.

Mr. Major Final returns showing the number and cost of severe weather payments made in 1986 are still awaited from a few local offices in England and Scotland. The latest information available is as follows:

Country | Number of payments | Amount paid in £ | Average payment £

England | 333,076 | 8,622,037 | 25.89
Scotland | 84,181 | 1,926,689 | 22.89
Wales (1) | 38,769 | 1,039,294 | 26.81

(1) Final figures.

Final figures for England and Scotland may not be available for some weeks, but it is unlikely that they will be substantially different from those given in the table.