Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel Payment

Alicia Kearns Excerpts

Tuesday 12th November 2024 Commons Chamber

[Emma Reynolds]

I urge the hon. Lady to look at the support available to low income households through the warm homes discount scheme, the extension of the household support fund and our commitment to the triple lock, which will ensure that 12 million pensioners see a rise in their pension of up to £470 next year, and £1,900 over the course of this Parliament. In the longer term, I urge her to look at the detail of the warm homes plan, which will transform homes across the country by making them cleaner and cheaper to heat.

[Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Stamford) (Con)]

On 19 September, the Minister’s Department told me in response to a written question that 48,351 people in my constituency had been eligible for winter fuel payments. While we are proud to offer forever homes to so many pensioners, that is a preposterous figure, relating to a heartless and unnecessary decision that will cost more in the long term. How do I or any of my residents have confidence in what the Government are doing, since they believe that more than half my constituency is made up pensioners, and cannot even get the basic numbers right?

[Emma Reynolds]

I quote one of the hon. Lady’s fellow politicians:

“I have people in my constituency telling me that they don’t need the winter fuel payments that we give them because they can afford it.”

Those are the words of the Leader of the Opposition, the right hon. Member for North West Essex (Mrs Badenoch).