Winter Fuel Payment

Josh MacAlister Excerpts

Wednesday 19th March 2025 Commons Chamber

[Louise Jones]

The costings take into account the uplift in the numbers of people claiming pension credit, as they are entitled to do.

[Josh MacAlister (Whitehaven and Workington) (Lab)]

Does my hon. Friend agree that the changes made to the winter fuel payment to secure it for those most in need actually save £1 billion net, with the extra costs of the rise in those claiming pension credit? Does she also agree that the Government’s choices across the board mean that we are able to make the decision to protect the triple lock, nearly double the warm home discount and get the NHS back on its feet? It is pretty shocking that we have so far not heard one example of how the Conservative party would make different choices to do those same things.

[Louise Jones]

Sadly, it is a feature of this debate that it is very easy for Members across the Opposition Benches to say, “You shouldn’t do something,” but very difficult to say what should be done instead.