§ Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Can you advise me on how issues affecting our constituents can be raised in the House today? Many elderly people desperately need assistance to pay their fuel bills and are suffering a great deal because of the bad weather.
Why has no Minister come to the House to give us a statement about what assistance, if any, is to be given to our elderly constituents? The Government have authority to make payments when there is a severe winter. That was last done in January 1982. Why has not the Secretary of State for Social Services or any of his ministerial colleagues come to the House to deal with the matter? So many elderly people live on inadequate incomes and they will not turn on their heating because they are frightened of the quarterly fuel bill that will arrive in four or six weeks. It is an appalling situation and we should have a statement from the Government.
§ Mr. SpeakerThat is not a point of order for me. The hon. Gentleman is an experienced Member, and I need not advise him on parliamentary tactics. I am sure that he will realise, on reflection, that there are many ways in which he can raise such matters.
§ Mr. Eric S. Heffer (Liverpool, Walton)On another point of order, Mr. Speaker. Has any Minister suggested to you that the Government are prepared to make a statement about the homeless who are living on the streets in London, Liverpool and other places? Clearly, some are likely to die unless urgent steps are taken to provide shelter for them. Have Ministers given you any indication that they are taking emergency steps to deal with the problems caused by the present bad weather?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The answer to the hon. Gentleman is exactly the same as the answer that I gave to his hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick). There are other opportunities for raising these matters, and I have not received any such request.