The Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Amendment Regulations 2009

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Regulations 1988 (SI 1988/1724) (“the 1988 Regulations”). They modify regulation 3 of the 1988 Regulations and substitute new Schedules in relation to the lists of weather stations and applicable postcode districts in Schedule 1 and alternative weather stations in Schedule 2.

Schedule 1 to the 1988 Regulations specifies primary weather stations which are relevant to determining whether there is a recorded, or forecasted, period of cold weather. Schedule 2 to the 1988 Regulations specifies alternative stations used to determine this information where the primary station is unable to do so. (Where there is no specified alternative station for the relevant primary station, the nearest primary station able to provide this information is used.)

Regulation 2(2) replaces Schedule 1 to the 1988 Regulations with Schedule 1 to these Regulations. The new Schedule largely re-enacts the list contained in the former Schedule 1, but it assigns some postcodes from existing stations to nine new weather stations: Strathallan, Little Rissington, Stonyhurst, Sheffield, St. Bees Head, North Wyke, Fylingdales, Gravesend and Leek. (Fylingdales was being considered for closure last year so its postcodes were assigned to other weather stations but it remains open and postcodes are being assigned to it from Loftus and Linton-on-Ouse.)

Regulation 2(3) replaces Schedule 2 to the 1988 Regulations with Schedule 2 to these Regulations. The new Schedule adds nine Meteorological Office Stations in column (1) and omits Leconfield and Loftus. Related changes are made to column (2).

Regulation 3 provides that for winter 2009/10 a cold weather payment will be £25 instead of £8.50.

The Postcode Atlas of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the postcode maps may be obtained from their publishers. A person may establish the current postcode for his or her address by contacting the Royal Mail Postcode Enquiries Office (telephone [phone] - Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. - or 08457 111 222) or through the Royal Mail website at www.royalmail.com.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the private or voluntary sectors.