Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Emma Reynolds and Luke Taylor

Tuesday 29th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Luke Taylor (Sutton and Cheam) (LD)]

12. What fiscal steps she is taking to support pensioners with the cost of living.

[The Parliamentary Secretary, His Majesty’s Treasury (Emma Reynolds)]

More than 12 million pensioners will be protected by this Government’s commitment to the triple lock, with the new full state pension expected to increase by around £1,700 over the course of this Parliament. Pensioners also benefit from free eye test, free NHS prescriptions and free bus passes.

[Luke Taylor]

We know that no impact assessment was carried out prior to the decision to cut the winter fuel payment, but was any consideration given to the burden that the daunting application form places on the elderly, and the extra burden on charities such as Age UK, which advise them on completing it? Evidence of that daunting burden is the 60% limit to uptake over the past decade. Will she work with her colleagues to simplify the application process, ease the burden on those who are losing the winter fuel payment, and help them receive the broad benefits that pension credit provides?

[Mr Speaker]

I think the Minister got it in the first two minutes, never mind the last three.