2009 110 23 Sir Robert Smith presses the Government on how Cold Weather Payments are Calculated

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 23rd Oct 2009

Local MP Sir Robert Smith will continue to press the Government to reconsider how it calculates Cold Weather Payments in the West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine constituency.

He was reacting to a decision by the Government not to use a more local temperature measurement in determining entitlement to the cold weather payment..

Commenting, Sir Robert said:

"The current system for calculating payments is unfair. Many local people experience extremely cold spells during the winter but miss out on payments because the stations used for calculating payments are so far apart.

For example, the cold weather payment for Banchory is based on the temperature recorded at the weather station in Dyce. The airport, being much nearer the coast, can experience very different weather to that in Banchory."

Sir Robert called on to the government to think again about the current arrangements:

"With fuel bills set to rise the government should reconsider this decision that leaves local people missing out on payments that they could be entitled to."

Notes:

1- Recipients of Cold Weather payments receive £25 when the average temperature where they live is recorded as, or forecast to be, zero degrees Celsius or below over seven consecutive days during the period from 1 November to 31 March.

2- Payments are linked to postcode. Postcodes in the West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine constituency are linked to weather stations in Braemar and Dyce

3- More information on the benefit can be found at http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOtherSupport/Inretirement/DG_10018668