To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many times cold weather payments have been triggered in post code (a) FK10 and (b) PH1 since October 2009. (309655)

The cold weather payment scheme runs from 1 November to 31 March each year. Between 1 November 2009 and 6 January 2010 cold weather payments were triggered three times each in post code areas FK10 and PH1.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how long on average elapsed between the occurrence of weather conditions triggering cold weather payments and such payments being made in 2008-09. (309743)

The payment of cold weather payments is a fully automated process. Once a cold weather payment is triggered, it takes three working days to make a payment into a customer’s account. For the very small number of claims that are maintained clerically, it takes slightly longer to make a payment, but average times are not recorded.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what account is taken of wind chill factors in the triggering of cold weather payments. (309744)

The cold weather payment scheme does not take account of wind chill factors.