Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will amend the Cold Weather Payment scheme so that payments are provided every time extreme cold is forecast for the following day; and if he will make a statement.

There are currently no plans to change the Cold Weather Payment scheme.

A £25 payment is made when the average temperature has been recorded as, or is forecast to be, 0ºC or below over seven days at the weather station linked to the eligible customer's postcode. The seven consecutive days is a clear and reasonable measure of a sustained period of cold weather. A payment is made automatically within 14 working days of a trigger to ensure claimants receive payments at the time of need.