One key question Labour refuses to answer about pensioners who lost winter fuel allowance
Tory MP for Farnham and Bordon Gregory Stafford submitted a written Parliamentary question yesterday to Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
The Labour Government has refused to answer a key question about how it will support elderly people with long-term illnesses who will no longer qualify for the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Tory MP for Farnham and Bordon Gregory Stafford submitted a written Parliamentary question yesterday to Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
He asked: "What steps she plans to take to support pensioners suffering from long-term illnesses who are not eligible for pension credit in the winter.”
Only those who qualify for certain state benefits, including pension credits, will continue to receive the allowance.
Labour MP Emma Reynolds, Parliamentary Secretary for the Treasury, replied on behalf of Ms Kendall.
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She said “The Department for Work and Pensions has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.”
The refusal came just a day before today's key vote in Parliament over axing the allowance to any pensioner not in receipt of state benefits, which has led to major criticism and claims some people could become ill or die.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Mel Stride kicked off the Commons debate this afternoon.
The debate will last for around an hour and a half meaning a vote is expected at around 3pm.
He told the Commons: "Labour candidates up and down the country gleefully pointed to their manifesto as having no mention of doing anything on this particular matter.
"But look within a matter of a few short weeks, what has happened? What happened to integrity? What happened to transparency? It went out of the window.
"Broken promises already, that special contract that they sought to have with the British people based on integrity and decency smashed into a million pieces."
Tory MP Mark Francois has raised fears in today's debate over older people becoming ill and being admitted to hospital after being unable to heat their homes.
He said: "So by that method it would be a false economy. The game isn't worth the candle."
