asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any plans to cut the heating season any further at the end of 1988; and if he will reconsider the shortening of the season if the current bad weather continues.
Written Answers. - Fuel Schemes.
54.
The arrangements applying in the current heating season are the result of an in depth review of the fuel schemes in operation. In the light of this I decided to proceed with rationalisation and the introduction of one national scheme on a phased basis. As part of this process I extended the payment of fuel allowances for the first time, to the long-term unemployed, bringing an estimated 30,000 additional beneficiaries into the schemes. The funds available for fuel allowances (£28.2 million) meant that the inclusion of the long term unemployed could only be accomplished by a heating season of 26 weeks. The present arrangements will operate from 19 October 1987 to 15 April 1988 and data supplied by the Meteorological Office indicate that over many years temperatures outside that period are significantly higher.
The operation of the new arrangements, which cater for 218,000 people, is being reviewed on an ongoing basis and the indications are that they are working satisfactorily and that there is no need for any alterations to the schemes at this stage.