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Ministerial corrections

Ann Winterton (Congleton) (Con): If he will make a statement on trends in levels of poverty among the elderly. [216454] [Official Report, 7 July 2008, Vol. 478, c. 1139.] Letter from Mike O’Brien: An error has been identified in the oral answer given to the hon. Member for Congleton (Ann Winterton) on 7 July 2008. The answer given was as follows: Mr. O'Brien: 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. The correct answer is as follows: Mr. O'Brien: 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 year 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.