Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of Exchequer, if she will make an estimate of the impact of removing the entitlement to the Winter Fuel Allowance from people over State Pension age who pay tax at (a) the higher rate of 40% and (b) the additional rate of 45% on the public purse in the next financial year.

The Government does not publish estimates of the impacts on the public purse of removing the entitlement to the Winter Fuel Payment from people over State Pension age who pay income tax at the higher rate or additional rate.

In face of the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the government has had to make hard choices to bring the public finances back under control, including targeting Winter Fuel Payments.

Winter Fuel Payments will continue to be paid to pensioner households with someone receiving Pension Credit or certain other income-related benefits. This means that the Winter Fuel Payment will be better targeted to low income pensioners who need it.