In a tense grilling on BBC Breakfast, Wes Streeting was asked about how elderly people are expected to protect their health after the country was hit by a burst of cold weather
BBC Breakfast: Wes Streeting asked about winter fuel allowance
Wes Streeting has been confronted about freezing OAPs being forced to go into debt to turn on their heating after Labour’s winter fuel cuts.
In a tense grilling on BBC Breakfast on Friday morning, the Health Secretary was asked how elderly people are expected to protect their health as the country is hit by a burst of cold weather this weekend.
Presenter Charlie Stayt told the Cabinet minister: “We’ve spoken to Age UK this morning in relation to… this coming weekend, people who are cold in their homes. They’ve said there are two and a half million people who needed the winter fuel allowance who won’t receive it because of the changes that were brought in.
“They are saying they would be advising people if they’re cold in their homes and they’re elderly and vulnerable to go into debt rather than risk their health. Would you advise the same?”
Mr Streeting admitted that he would “certainly agree” that this is a weekend to put the heating on. He said: “Well, this is definitely a weekend to turn the heating on, and I’ll just remind people that the Chancellor did take the decision to protect winter fuel allowance for the poorest pensioners to protect people this winter and in future winters.
“And of course, the triple lock on pensions is guaranteed, so the state pension is higher this winter than it was last year, and will be higher further still next year. That’s why the Chancellor has taken those decisions to make sure that we protect the vulnerable this winter, but I would certainly agree that this weekend is a weekend to layer up and put the heating on as well.”
Labour announced it was cutting the £300 winter fuel allowance for 10 million pensioners in the summer. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the support would now be restricted to just OAPs on pension credit or other benefits. She said she was left with no other option after finding a £22billion black hole in the public finances left by the Tories.
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Ministers previously estimated that 880,000 households were eligible for pension credits who were yet to claim, meaning they were also set to lose out on the winter fuel allowance. Official data released in November showed only 42,500 – fewer than 5% of those eligible – have had their applications approved.
During the same month the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)’s own internal analysis showed that ministers were aware that hundreds of thousands of pensioners will be pushed into poverty due to the winter fuel cuts but they decided to continue with the decision.
