Rising energy costs wipe out winter fuel payments for Haltemprice & Howden residents

12.30.00pm GMT Thu 17th Jan 2008

LIBERAL Democrats in Haltemprice & Howden are calling on the Government to protect pensioners from energy price rises. They have made the call after figures showed that recent increases in the cost of electricity and gas are set to wipe out pensioners' winter fuel payment.

Figures received by the Lib Dems from the House of Commons Library show that since 2004/5:

1 For a typical pensioner household aged 65-74 with gas central heating, gas bills have risen by £260 pa &

electricity by £160 pa - a total of £420 pa

2 For a typical pensioner household aged over 75 gas bills are up £200 pa & electricity up by £150 pa - a

total of £350 pa.

3 The value of the Winter Fuel Payment per household for those aged 60-79 is £200 and £300 for those

aged over 80.

4 The £300 rate for the over 80s was introduced in the winter of 2003/4 and hasn't risen since.

"Elderly and disabled people are hardest hit by the fuel price hikes, which more than wipe out the value of the Winter Fuel Payment," said David Nolan Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for the area.

"With about 18,300 pensioners in Haltemprice & Howden many will find themselves in financial difficulties."

"The government must do far more to to combat fuel poverty. The top priority must be end the scandal of pensioners paying a fortune to heat draughty houses where a lot of heat is being wasted."

"This is a waste of money and also harms the environment. Many other colder European countries have lower household energy costs because their homes are better insulated."

" The Government needs to get its act together and make sure our pensioners don't have to make a choice between heating and eating on cold winter days," concluded David.