I have written to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt Hon George Osborne MP, ahead of his Autumn Statement to ask him to reconsider the proposed cuts to the winter fuel allowance and the Warm Front home insulation scheme.
In the letter, I note that the Winter Fuel Allowance used to cover a third of a dual fuel bill – it now only covers a fifth. With 25,700 excess winter deaths last year attributable to people’s inability to keep warm, we cannot afford these cuts. Restoring the winter fuel allowance to the level it reached under the Labour government would cost £695m; by contrast, the impact of cold housing on people’s health already costs the NHS over £850m a year.
In the letter, I note that the Winter Fuel Allowance used to cover a third of a dual fuel bill – it now only covers a fifth. With 25,700 excess winter deaths last year attributable to people’s inability to keep warm, we cannot afford these cuts. Restoring the winter fuel allowance to the level it reached under the Labour government would cost £695m; by contrast, the impact of cold housing on people’s health already costs the NHS over £850m a year.
I also reminded the Chancellor that the Warm Front insulation scheme was designed to make the homes of those most in need cheaper to heat and to cut climate-changing carbon emissions. The Treasury is estimated to receive £200m in tax revenues as a result of higher fuel prices – money which I believe should be used to restore the Warm Front scheme and not only benefit the most vulnerable members of society, but also create jobs.
We cannot afford these cuts. It cannot be right that those who are the poorest and most vulnerable should be left without heating again this winter. I am calling on the Chancellor to act and reverse this decision so that lives may be saved.
Notes:
In March 2011 the Government cut the Winter Fuel Allowance from £250 to £200 for those over 60 and from £400 to £300 for those over 80.
The Government has also cut funding for the Warm Front scheme by more than two thirds and is planning to phase it out completely.
We cannot afford these cuts. It cannot be right that those who are the poorest and most vulnerable should be left without heating again this winter. I am calling on the Chancellor to act and reverse this decision so that lives may be saved.
Notes:
In March 2011 the Government cut the Winter Fuel Allowance from £250 to £200 for those over 60 and from £400 to £300 for those over 80.
The Government has also cut funding for the Warm Front scheme by more than two thirds and is planning to phase it out completely.
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