Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will make an assessment of the potential merits of ending the annual £10 Christmas bonus to pensioners and allocating the money saved elsewhere in order to alleviate current budgetary pressures.

The Christmas Bonus is an annual, tax-free lump sum payment to pensioners and to working age people who are in receipt of certain qualifying benefits during the relevant week which is usually the first full week in December. The Government remains committed to providing support to pensioners and others who receive the payments and has no current plans to revise the arrangements.