Severe Weather Payment (Hansard, 11 February 1986)

§ Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Stnading Order No. 10, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the need for the exceptionally severe weather payment to be paid during the present very cold weather, and for other assistance to be provided by the Government for those on small limited incomes, especially the elderly, to help to pay fuel bills for heating purposes during this period.

My application deals with the need to ensure that the exceptionally severe weather payment is now paid, in view of the very cold weather, and that other assistance with fuel bills is given.

The importance of the matter is self explanatory. Hundreds of thousands of pensioners on the smallest incomes are suffering immense misery because they do not have the financial means to keep their accommodation any where near adequately heated.

The debate for which I am calling is needed because of the bureaucratic nightmare of trying to trigger off this exceptionally severe weather payment. The Government claim that, under the new regulations, district or branch managers of local offices are in effect responsible for making the decision. The managers understandably put the responsibility upon the regional officers of the Department of Health and Social Security. The regional offices in turn do not seem to have the knowledge with which to reach a decision on whether the weather is sufficiently cold for the special payment to be made. Therefore, the help that could be given to people who are on supplementary benefit is not being given. I believe, therefore, that this matter should be debated.

There are also many other people on small incomes, who are not in receipt of supplementary benefit, who receive no help with their heating bills. For example, three quarters of a million pensioners receive help with their rent or rates because their incomes are inadequate, but they do not receive supplementary benefit. During very cold weather they receive no help with their heating bills.

784 Surely one test of a civilised society is how far the Government are willing and able to assist those who can least afford to keep their homes warm. If people on ordinary incomes find that, because of the cold weather, they are facing difficulties over very large heating bills, how much more difficult will it be for those whose income is so low that literally every penny has to be counted? These are the people who should be helped.

I have made inquiries in my own area, the west midlands, and have found that the exceptionally severe weather payment is not being made. The Secretary of State for Social Services and other Ministers at the Department of Health and Social Security shrug off responsibility and say that it is nothing to do with them. Who, therefore, will decide this matter?

A debate is also needed because many people on small incomes receive no help. Either they have to face large bills or they have to turn off the heat and cover themselves in blankets, because they are terrified of receiving bills that they cannot possibly pay from the gas board or the electricity board.

For all these reasons, the Opposition believe that the Government should accept responsibility for the exceptionally severe weather payments. In those circumstances, I am asking for a debate under Standing Order No. 10.