To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of households in areas covered by weather stations situated in North Yorkshire which will be eligible for cold weather payments in 2008-09.

The only weather station used for the cold weather payments scheme which is situated in North Yorkshire is Linton on Ouse. The estimated number of benefit units which are eligible for cold weather payments in 2008-09 and whose postcodes are linked to Linton on Ouse weather station is 138,900.

Notes:

1. Some postcodes in North Yorkshire are not linked to Linton on Ouse weather station and some postcodes outside North Yorkshire are linked to Linton on Ouse weather station.

2. Cold Weather Payments are made to benefit units rather than households. For example, a disabled adult on income support living with his mother on pension credit counts as two benefit units but would be thought of as one household. Estimates of the number of households eligible for cold weather payments are not available.

3. The estimate has been rounded to the nearest 100.