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Patsy McGlone
9th December 2010
Review Cold Weather Payments
Eligibility - McGlone
SDLP MLA for Mid Ulster, Patsy McGlone, has
called for a review of the method of determining which areas are eligible
for cold weather payments.
The Mid Ulster MLA said, “The recent triggering of cold weather payments has
once again revealed the problems with the current method of determining
which areas are eligible.
“Rural areas, such as many parts of Mid Ulster, are disadvantaged under the
current system.
“Most of Mid Ulster, postcodes BT80, 45 and 46, are assessed by measurements
taken at the Aldegrove station.
“This some considerable distance away from the affected areas in Mid Ulster
and cannot accurately reflect the conditions there.
“Although the residents in the postcodes I have mentioned have been included
in the most recent list of those eligible, they were not included in the
first cold weather payment of this winter. Yet residents in adjoining
postcodes are covered.
“In some cases near neighbours will have been assessed differently.
“I will be discussing these issues with the Social Development Minister and
urging a review of the current system to ensure that rural communities are
no longer disadvantaged.”
ENDS
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