Winter Fuel Payment — 10 Sep 2024 at 18:04

That this House regrets that the Government approved the use of the urgency exemption in section 173 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 to make and lay the Social Fund Winter Fuel Payment Regulations 2024 before the Secretary of State had referred the Regulations to the Social Security Advisory Committee; further regrets that the Government decided it was not necessary to publish an impact assessment for the Regulations, despite, for example, the evidence which shows that living in a cold home increases the risk of serious illness for vulnerable people and those with disabilities and so restricting eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment is likely to lead to increased burdens on the National Health Service; regrets that the Government made time to debate the prayer motion from the Official Opposition without the Social Security Advisory Committee’s Report, and Government response; and calls on the Government to lay those papers before Parliament without delay, and to publish a full regulatory and equality impact assessment for these Regulations.

“It remains unclear what the practical impact of any statement might be on regulations which will have already come into effect.”

“A full Impact Assessment has not been prepared for this instrument because there is no significant new impact on business, charities or voluntary bodies.”

“For a vulnerable person, living in a cold home increases their chance of serious illness or death.”

“being housebound increases both the exposure to an underheated home and the cost of heating it.”

“unconvinced by the reasons given for the urgency attached to laying these Regulations and particularly concerned that this precludes appropriate scrutiny”.

“one of the largest in-year overspends outside of the pandemic”

“I’ve never struggled this much to keep warm. I can only afford to heat one room with a small portable heater. Sometimes I sleep in my armchair to save money…it’s no way to live.”

“The winter fuel payment gave me peace of mind that I would be able to heat my home and stay warm during the winter”-

“imposing the biggest real wage cuts in living memory.”

“The work of the PRBs is demand led and essentially non-negotiable-departments set the remits and timetables.”

“My husband has several medical issues this year and I am very worried about the heating situation…I think it is likely that we will cut back on nourishing food.

I cannot believe that a British Government would penalize our generation like this.”

“Now I fear the winter months, and afraid…of hypothermia.

I personally am just above the threshold to qualify for pension credits. I am a single person claiming state pension and also have a small NHS pension…I can foresee me not using my central heating this winter.”

“Will the Prime Minister now rule out taking pensioners’ winter fuel payments off them?”-[Official Report, 1 May 2024; Vol. 749, c. 255.]

“We are the party who have said that we will cut the winter fuel allowance for the richest pensioners and means-test that benefit to save money”-[Official Report, 25 March 2014; Vol. 578, c. 174-175.]

“show a bit of bravery-even break the Whip and stand out from the crowd.”-[Official Report, 5 September 2024; Vol. 753, c. 461.]

“we will cut the winter fuel allowance for the richest pensioners and means-test that benefit to save money”.-[Official Report, 25 March 2014; Vol. 578, c. 174.]

“I am 80 years old and live on a State Pension of less than £11k, not the…£13k that I keep reading about… I don’t know who gets that much but I certainly don’t!”

“a long, cold winter… please do what you can to get this dreadful decision reversed.”

Debate in Parliament |