To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners resident in Ashford constituency are in receipt of the winter fuel allowance; and how much her Department paid to such pensioners in winter fuel allowance in 2009. (313520)

For winter 2008-09 (the last winter for which information is available), 24,310 people received a winter fuel payment in Ashford at a cost of £5.1 million.

Notes:

1. Payment figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

2. Expenditure figures are rounded to the nearest £0.1 million.

3. Parliamentary constituencies are assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant ONS postcode directory.