Disabled People Need Winter Fuel Payments

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 29th Jan 2007

Lib Dem MP for Manchester Withington, John Leech, is calling for winter fuel payments to be extended to disabled people who need extra heating to keep warm during the winter months.

The Lib Dem MP has signed a parliamentary motion which calls for the payments, which are currently only available to those over 60 years of age, to also be given to disabled people whose conditions mean that they have to be extra careful to keep warm in cold weather.

John Leech MP said:

"Winter fuel payments are important to many elderly people who are vulnerable to the cold and live on tight budgets. Recent fuel price increases make them even more important."

"However, the government is discriminating against many people with disabilities who are also very vulnerable to low home temperatures and who have also been hit hard by the large hikes in gas and electricity prices."

"The government must extend the winter fuel payments so that everyone whose health is vulnerable to the cold can afford to keep warm over winter."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Early Day Motion 593

EXTENSION OF WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS 10.01.2007

That this House acknowledges that winter fuel payments afforded to all UK

citizens over 60 years are helpful in the fight against the effects of cold

weather and rising fuel costs; recognises that such benefits are essential

in ensuring that the costs of getting home temperature environments to

adequate levels are achievable; understands that many people suffering

severe medical conditions which require constant home temperatures are not

automatically given the same support; and calls on the Government to end

such unfair discrimination and extend payments to all disabled people who

require extra heating in order to best manage their condition during cold

weather periods.