Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Northern Ireland Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Nicholas Dakin Excerpts
Wednesday 30th November 2011

(12 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nick Smith Portrait Nick Smith (Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
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7. What representations he has received on fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.

Nicholas Dakin Portrait Nic Dakin (Scunthorpe) (Lab)
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8. What representations he has received on fuel poverty in Northern Ireland.

Lord Swire Portrait The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr Hugo Swire)
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I attended the Opposition day debate on pensioners and winter fuel payments on 22 November. The matter was also discussed on 31 August, when I met the Minister for Welfare Reform and Northern Ireland Ministers to discuss this and other matters. Measures to tackle fuel poverty in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of Executive Ministers.

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Nicholas Dakin Portrait Nic Dakin
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How will the Minister ensure that nobody in Northern Ireland has to choose between heating and eating this winter, given that fuel prices have risen by 18.6% this autumn?

Lord Swire Portrait Mr Swire
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The hon. Gentleman will know that there are several schemes in Northern Ireland, such as warm homes, warm homes plus, the pilot boiler replacement scheme, the introduction of oil stamps, and the Housing Executive itself. Contrary to what Opposition Members say, the Government have maintained the winter fuel allowance and chosen to keep the higher cold weather payment allowances, which is more than the Labour Government would have done, had they won the last general election, which, mercifully, they did not.