Oral Answers to Questions

Rachael Maskell Excerpts
Monday 11th November 2024

(1 week, 6 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Emma Reynolds Portrait Emma Reynolds
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It is good to see that the SNP Government are focusing on that issue now, because during their 17 years in government, we have seen increases in pensioner poverty across Scotland.

Rachael Maskell Portrait Rachael Maskell (York Central) (Lab/Co-op)
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Pensioners in poverty now have just 40 days to apply for the winter fuel payment via the pension credit system. Will the Minister look at extending the deadline so that more people can claim pension credit and get the winter fuel payment?

Emma Reynolds Portrait Emma Reynolds
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I reassure my hon. Friend that we have redeployed 500 additional staff to process the claims. We are working at pace to process them, but 21 December remains the deadline.