Oral question asked in the House of Commons, by Ann Winterton (Conservative). It was answered on Monday, 7 July 2008 on behalf of the Department for Work and Pensions.

Poverty (Elderly People)

Question: The Government's fuel poverty target has, according to their own advisers, been missed, so I wonder what warm words they can offer elderly people and pensioners who face dramatically increased fuel costs. The Government appear to have no clear strategy for addressing fuel poverty among the elderly, who will be too afraid to turn up or even to switch on the heating in case they incur very large bills. What action will they take to assist this most vulnerable section of our community?

Answer: I would have thought that the hon. Lady had informed her constituents that winter fuel payments will increase this year. There will be an extra £50 a week for those aged between 60 and 80 and an extra £100 for those aged over 80, bringing to £250 the amount that the Government provide to the elderly each year to help with their winter fuel bills. An extra £400 in winter fuel payments will be paid to those aged over 80. Indeed, we are going further than that by taking powers in the Pensions Bill, which is currently going through the other place, that will enable the data sharing of information with suppliers so that poorer pensioners can be put on to lower social tariffs, ensuring that they pay lower bills and get insulation. Warm Front has given 1.7 million homes assistance on insulation: an average of £2,700 has been provided to ensure that homes are insulated and fuel bills are kept down, so quite a lot is happening in this respect.

Secondary information

Type: Oral question
Reference: 478 c1139 (12MC)
Session: 2007-08
Oral question type: 1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Related items: Ministerial corrections
Thursday, 10 July 2008
Written corrections
House of Commons
Notes: Answer corrected 10 July at 12MC
Subjects: Poverty Fuel poverty Older people
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Oral question on www.publications.parliament.uk