§ 1. Gareth Thomas (Clwyd, West)What plans he has to reform the social fund. [440]
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Malcolm Wicks)Since 1997, we have increased the gross discretionary social fund budget by 30 per cent. In 1999, we introduced reforms to make the budgeting loan scheme simpler and faster. Consequently, 82,000 more people got a budgeting loan than in the previous year.
§ Gareth ThomasI congratulate my hon. Friend on his appointment to a new and important Department. In view of the heatwave, today may not be the appropriate day to ask this, but will he reconsider the case for extending winter fuel payments to the disabled? Will he re-examine the claim by the predecessor Department that existing 366 benefits adequately reflect fuel poverty among disabled pensioners, since that is a contention that is disputed by many of my disabled constituents?
§ Malcolm WicksI am sorry to disappoint my hon. Friend, but we have no plans to extend winter fuel allowances to disabled people. However, I hasten to assure him that as the popular and effective winter fuel allowances go to everyone over the age of 60, the majority of people with disabilities are covered. Fuel allowances go to those over 60 because research shows that older people are physiologically most at risk.
Disability benefits, including the disability premium and the disability living allowance, provide extra resources for those with disabilities to meet costs which could include heating.
§ Mr. Steve Webb (Northavon)May I add my welcome to the Under-Secretary, who is knowledgeable about social security matters and will be a great asset to the team?
I want to take up the theme of winter fuel payments. Today, in lovely weather, the Department issued a press release encouraging people to claim next winter's fuel payments. That is welcome, but does the Under-Secretary accept that there was a big problem with take-up last winter? How many people who were entitled to payments missed out as a result of the imposition of a deadline of 31 March for claims for last winter? How much money did the Government save by imposing that deadline?
§ Malcolm WicksIn fact, take-up of winter fuel allowance is very good, but we are not complacent and we will always do more to encourage take-up. I understand that since we do not have names on records for men aged 60 to 65, there may be a particular issue and those people therefore do have to claim. As with all social security rights, we urge everyone to claim what is justly theirs.