WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS FOR SEVERELY DISABLED PEOPLE

Early day motion 280, tabled 21 June 2010 by Julian Huppert (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 43 members.

That this House welcomes the campaign to extend winter fuel payments to severely disabled people; notes that disabled people are twice as likely to live in poverty as non-disabled people; further notes the relationship between low income and fuel poverty; recognises the many disabled people who are at home all day and do not currently receive a payment to help cope with the burden of increased heating costs; believes the current system of winter fuel payments should be reformed and extended to all severely disabled people, paid for by delaying age-related winter fuel payments until people reach 65; further notes this reform would generate cost savings for the Treasury; and congratulates Papworth Trust for raising this important issue and its campaign to better educate disabled people on how to keep warm in the cold winter months.

Signatures by party: Labour 20, Liberal Democrat 12, DUP 6, Alliance 1, Conservative 1, Independent 1, Plaid Cymru 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.