asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if exceptionally severe weather payments are to be abolished as a result of his social security reviews;(2) what new arrangements he proposes to make for the calculation of exceptionally severe weather and payments to assist with heating bills in such weather for 1985–86.

As I made clear to the House on 12 March, at columns 129–31, the present arrangements are under review and we shall announce our conclusions before next winter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was paid out in exceptionally severe weather payments in 1984–85; and how many claimants benefited.

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