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<p>The Cold Weather Payment scheme is administered at weather station level rather
than any other standard GB geography such as constituency level. The coverage area
for each weather station is determined by the Met Office which assesses the most appropriate
weather station for each postcode area. Cold Weather Payments are triggered when the
average temperature recorded at the weather station has been recorded as, or is forecast
to be, 0<sup>o</sup>C or below over seven consecutive days.</p><p> </p><p>The estimated
numbers of Cold Weather Payments are produced at a weather station level and cannot
be broken down further. As a result, estimates given in the tables below are subject
to a margin of error when matching to the specified areas.</p><p> </p><p>The postcode
areas within (a) Vale of Clwyd constituency are covered by the Hawarden Airport and
Rhyl weather stations. Table 1 gives the total estimated number of Cold Weather Payments
issued to people in coverage of these weather stations in each of the last five years.</p><p>
</p><p><strong>Table 1: Cold Weather Payments in each of the last five years, weather
stations covering Vale of Clwyd constituency </strong></p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>2012/13</p></td><td><p>2013/14</p></td><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>2016/17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Estimated
Cold Weather Payments</p></td><td><p>26,300</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>The weather stations linked solely, or partly, to postcode areas located in
Wales are: Aberporth, Capel Curig, Filton, Hawarden Airport, Hereford-Credenhill,
Lake Vyrnwy, Mona, Pembrey Sands, Rhyl, Llysdinam (replacing Sennybridge from 2015/16
onwards), Shawbury, St. Athan, Trawsgoed, and Tredegar.</p><p> </p><p>Table 2 gives
the total estimated number of Cold Weather Payments issued to people in coverage of
these weather stations, excluding any estimated payments for Hawarden Airport and
Rhyl weather stations. This gives an approximation of payments issued in (b) Wales
excluding Vale of Clwyd constituency.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 2: Cold Weather
Payments in each of the last five years, weather stations covering Wales excluding
Hawarden Airport and Rhyl weather stations</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>2012/13*</p></td><td><p>2013/14*</p></td><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>2016/17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Estimated
Cold Weather Payments</p></td><td><p>466,300</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>8,000</p></td><td><p>0</p></td><td><p>0</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><strong>
</strong></p><p>*See note 3.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>The Department
for Work and Pensions does not produce estimates for Cold Weather Payments issued
in Northern Ireland. Cold Weather Payments in Northern Ireland are administered by
the Department for Communities.</p><p> </p><p>Table 3 gives the total estimated number
of Cold Weather Payments issued to people in England and Scotland in each of the last
five years.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Table 3: Cold Weather Payments in each of the last
five years, England and Scotland</strong></p><p><strong> </strong></p><table><tbody><tr><td><p>Year</p></td><td><p>2012/13*</p></td><td><p>2013/14*</p></td><td><p>2014/15</p></td><td><p>2015/16</p></td><td><p>2016/17</p></td></tr><tr><td><p>Estimated
Cold Weather Payments</p></td><td><p>5,352,400</p></td><td><p>1,100</p></td><td><p>407,000</p></td><td><p>155,000</p></td><td><p>131,000</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>*See note 3.</p><p> </p><p>Notes</p><p> </p><ol><li>The number of payments
given here is an estimate as information on the exact number of payments made is not
readily available. These figures are produced by determining the volume of eligible
recipients in each weather station area at the start of the winter season and using
these figures throughout the winter to estimate payments and expenditure based on
the actual triggers recorded.</li></ol><p> </p><ol start="2"><li>The number of payments
made is not necessarily the total number of individuals benefitting from a Cold Weather
Payment. Any individuals making a joint claim for one of the qualifying benefits,
such as a couple living together, will receive one payment between them rather than
one payment each.</li></ol><p> </p><ol start="3"><li>Before 2014/15, estimates of
Cold Weather Payments issued by country were not adjusted to take account of weather
stations with postcode coverage spanning country borders.</li></ol>
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