Mather reinforces Argyll’s concerns on Cold Weather Payments

Jim Mather, Argyll’s MSP, has again contacted the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP) in London to reinforce his concerns about the way that Cold Weather Payments for areas of Argyll and Bute are determined.

He has been assured that his concerns and the examples that he has quoted will be considered by the Met Office when they conduct their annual review.

Mr Mather says: ‘It is undoubtedly true that the cold weather experienced this winter was exceptional but some of the anomalies that were exposed in the calculation of Cold Weather Payments were simply ludicrous. Now that the threat of sustained cold weather is past I have taken steps to reinforce my concern about the way this scheme is operating.

‘It was discovered that some people around Oban were qualifying for 4 weeks allowances because their ‘linked’ weather station was sited at Tulloch Bridge whereas near neighbours, who were being controlled by the ambient temperature at Machrihanish, were judged to be eligible for a single payment.

‘Residents in Lochgilphead were being regulated by Machrihanish data while those in neighbouring Ardrishaig, marginally closer to Machrihanish, were assessed by the temperature at Bishopton in Renfrewshire.

‘I have the assurance of the DWP that these concerns will be considered when the system is reviewed this year. Such assurances have been given before but to little effect.  I will be watching carefully to see some effective action in this case.

‘This is yet another government function that is ‘reserved’ to the Westminster parliament and fails to take account of the geography of Scotland to operate effectively’.

Obviously such issues must be reviewed. They must also be addressed.

Finally reparation must be made, for this past winter at least, to those who will have struggled to pay to keep themselves warm – some to keep themselves alive – in such relatively extreme temperatures and over such an unusually prolonged period.