Winter Fuel Payments

HC Deb 13 November 2000 vol 356 cc634-6

6. Mr. Nick St. Aubyn (Guildford)

If he will make a statement on winter fuel payments. [136111]

The Secretary of State for Social Security (Mr. Alistair Darling)

Winter fuel payments have been increased to £200 this week. Payments will be issued from today.

Mr. St. Aubyn

Is not the real fraud that is being perpetrated on pensioners today the fact that a Social Security Minister promised in July that all payments for past winters would be cleared by the end of September? However, nearly 1 million pensioners are still waiting for their winter fuel payments from previous winters. Would not it be far better to consolidate winter fuel payments in the basic pension and to give a benefit, no questions asked, to all pensioners, which they would receive when they needed it, not when the Government decide that they should get it?

Mr. Darling

I note that the hon. Gentleman has the brass neck to refer to the subject of Question 5. He sheds crocodile tears about the winter fuel payment and his comments are unconvincing because the Tories are committed to getting rid of it. He is concerned about men between the ages of 60 and 65 who have not yet received their winter fuel payment, but the total is only 3 per cent. and claims are still being processed. He must tell those men that under the Tories they would not get any help whatever because they would lose £200 per household. His concern has no credibility.

Mr. David Winnick (Walsall, North)

Two days after Christmas 1996, I took a group of Labour Members to No. 10 Downing street to urge—to plead—for some help to be given with heating costs because of the freezing weather. No action was taken.

Am I not right in thinking that before we came to office there were no heating additions at all unless the weather was freezing for seven consecutive days—and it had to be seven consecutive days—in which case some £8 was given only to those on income support? Is that not the difference between what we did the moment we came to office, and what the Tories did? They should hang their heads in shame.

Mr. Darling

My hon. Friend is right. The cold weather payments scheme meant that it had to be cold for a long period, and that happens less than people might think, even in parts of the country where it appears to be cold all the time. The difference is that under our scheme every pensioner household receives a £200 winter fuel payment. The payments are being made between today and Christmas, which means that pensioners will have the money when the weather is starting to get cold, and will not have to worry about turning up the heating this winter.

What pensioners must realise is that, were the Tories to return to office, that £200 would be taken away. It is benefit-free and tax-free. However, 2.5 million people who either do not receive the pension or do not receive the full pension will lose out as a result of the Tories' policy.

Mr. David Willetts (Havant)

We will put it on the basic pension.

Mr. Darling

The House of Commons Library looked at the hon. Gentleman's figures, and said that the best he could claim was that pensioners would be 42p a week better off. I am more than happy to stand by what we are doing, in contrast to what the Tories are promising to take away from pensioners.

Sir David Madel (South-West Bedfordshire)

Why are women who reached the age of 60 last month unable to receive the winter fuel allowance this winter?

Mr. Darling

Because, as with many other provisions, there has to be a qualifying date. Otherwise, it would not be possible to ensure that all the payments were made. There has always been a qualifying date; nothing has changed this year.

Gillian Merron (Lincoln)

Can the Secretary of State confirm that the new £200 winter fuel payment will be payable to men aged 60 to 64? Is he aware of the importance of his assurance to constituents of mine such as Mr. Hutchings, who has rightly campaigned for prompt payment of the benefit to those in his age group? There is no doubt that men aged 60 to 64 would lose out following the implementation of Tory plans to axe the benefit and replace it with absolutely nothing.

Mr. Darling:

My hon. Friend is right. We have received more than 1 million claims from men aged between 60 and 65; 990,000 have been met, while about 3 per cent. have yet to be processed but will be met shortly.

The hon. Member for Havant (Mr. Willetts) shouted that men aged between 60 and 65 would receive the money in their pensions. They will not, because they are not retired. They will lose £200 as a result of the Tory policy.