Question Labour refuses to reply about pensioners over winter gasoline axe | Politics | News | EUROtoday
The Labour Government has refused to reply a key query about the way it will help aged individuals with long-term sicknesses who will not qualify for the Winter Fuel Allowance.
Tory MP for Farnham and Bordon Gregory Stafford submitted a written Parliamentary query yesterday to Liz Kendall, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
He requested: “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.
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 nation gleefully pointed to their manifesto as having no point out of doing something on this explicit 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 guarantees already, that particular contract that they sought to have with the British individuals based mostly on integrity and decency smashed into one million items.”
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 technique it could be a false financial system. The sport is not well worth the candle.”
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/1946757/Labour-key-question-winter-fuel-allowance