To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners received winter fuel allowance on the most recent date for which figures are available. (311776)

For winter 2008-09, the last year for which information is available, 12,421,130 people aged 60 or over received the winter fuel payment.

Notes:

1. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.

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

Source:

DWP Information Directorate 100 per cent. data.

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims for winter fuel payments were made by households in (a) England, (b) the East of England, (c) Bedfordshire and (d) Mid Bedfordshire constituency in the latest period for which figures are available. (317538)

For winter 2008-09, the latest year for which information is available, the following numbers of winter fuel payments were made to households: