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Dept of Social Security

Answer

Mr. Martin Bell: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the consistency between (a) the exclusion of men aged 60 to 64 years, unless married to women aged 60 years or over or receiving income support, from receiving the winter fuel payment and (b) EU directive 79/7, article 3.1(a) on equal treatment and section 29 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975. [25728] Mr. Denham: The additional help of £400 million over this winter and next, announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 25 November 1997, Official Report, columns 773-98, demonstrates the Government's commitment to help the elderly keep warm in their homes. People receiving Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance during week commencing 5 January whose benefit included a pensioner premium will be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment of £50. A pensioner premium applies where wither the claimant or partner are aged 60 or over. Other people over State pension age (65 for men, 60 for women) who are receiving any of the other qualifying benefits during the qualifying week will receive a payment of £20 or £10. Where there is only one eligible person in a household, or the person is of no fixed abode, they will receive £20; otherwise, each eligible person will receive £10. Men aged 60 to 64 will not be entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment on the basis that they are married to a woman aged 60 or over. Winter Fuel Payments do not fall within the scope of the Social Security Equal Treatment Directive (Directive 79/7). Section 29 of the Sex Discrimination Act 1975 deals with discrimination in the provision of goods, facilities or services, which does not apply to the Winter Fuel Payment scheme.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

25728; 305 c690-1W

Session

1997-98

Subjects

Equality Jobseeker's allowance Income support EU law Gender Heating Fuels Pensioners Recipients Social security benefits Winter fuel payment Higher pensioner premium

Legislation

Sex Discrimination Act 1975

Contains statistics

Yes