Fuel payment cuts are a major blow to pensioners​​​​​​​ - Miles Briggs

​Changes are being made to the Winter Fuel Payment policy (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

After much outcry from pensioners and charities Labour MPs went through the lobbies and the motion was defeated 348 votes to 228.

I know many readers will be concerned at the loss of this payment, especially as we head into the winter months and it is genuinely disappointing that Keir Starmer and the Labour Party had made not mentioned cutting fuel payments during the election campaign, and yet are introducing this damaging change in policy, just two months after being elected.

In Scotland we know that our winters can be colder compared to the milder winters south of the Border.

That is why it is concerning that SNP Ministers have followed the UK Government and scrapped universal winter fuel payments. What is of further concern is that the winter fuel payment was set to become the responsibility of the Scottish Government this month, however that has been pushed back to next winter.

Given SNP Ministers’ poor record on rolling out social security benefits, there are major question marks about the Scottish Government’s ability to deliver the Scottish payment equivalent, the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (PAWHP), which is now set to be means tested. I will continue to seek answers from Ministers.

In Edinburgh and the Lothians approximately 149,900 pensioners receive the winter fuel payment currently, with 16,500 eligible for pension credit. This means that roughly 132,500 pensioners who had previously been receiving the winter fuel payment will no longer be eligible.

In the last few years we have seen the cost of gas and electricity bills rising significantly, leading to many pensioners relying heavily on winter fuel payments.

It is estimated that energy bills are about 29 per cent higher than in 2021/22,. That is why the last UK Conservative Government put in place welcome additional support to help with the cost of household heating bills.

The Director of Age Scotland, Adam Stachura, said that this support is no longer going to be available to at least a quarter of a million pensioners in Scotland, on the lowest incomes or living in fuel poverty.

During a cost of living crisis, winter fuel payments will be the difference between many pensioners being able to have a warm home and not being able to afford putting the heating on.

It is deeply regrettable that Keir Starmar and the new UK Government have made their first decision to target pensioners for cuts to vital support. It is clear from decisions taken in recent years that pensioners are not a priority for Labour Ministers in London or SNP Ministers in Edinburgh.

Taking the needs of older citizens in Scotland for granted is something which won’t be forgotten at the next election.

Conservative MSP for Lothian​