Explanatory note

These Regulations amend the Social Fund Cold Weather Payments (General) Regulations 1988 (S.I. 1988/1724) (“the principal Regulations”).

Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations designates the relevant primary weather station for specified postcodes. A designated weather station records or forecasts periods of cold weather which are then used to determine eligibility for cold weather payments for claimants living in postcodes assigned to that weather station. Schedule 2 to those Regulations specifies alternative stations used to provide 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(1) substitutes the Schedule set out in Schedule 1 to these Regulations for the existing Schedule 1 to the principal Regulations. The new Schedule 1 transfers the following postcodes between weather stations: BA1-3, BA11, BA13-15, BL0-9, CT1-21, GL7-9, M24, M26, ME9-13, ML1-3, NE22, NE24, NE61-70, OL1-12, OL15-16, RG17, SK15, SN1-6, SN8-16, SN25-26, TN23-26, TN28-30.

Regulation 2(2) substitutes the Schedule set out in Schedule 2 to these Regulations for the existing Schedule 2 to the principal Regulations. The new Schedule 2 makes numerous updates to the lists of primary and specified alternative stations.

The Postcode Atlas of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the postcode maps may be obtained from Harper Collins, United Kingdom, 2012, ISBN 0007443072. A person may establish the current postcode for his or her address by contacting the Royal Mail Postcode Enquiries Office (telephone 0906 302 1222 (Monday - Friday, 8am - 4pm) or 08457 111 222 (Monday - Friday, 4pm - 6pm and Saturday, 8am - 1pm)) or through the Royal Mail website at www.royalmail.com.

A full impact assessment has not been published for this instrument as it has no impact on the private sector or civil society organisations.