John Robertson, MP for Glasgow North West, today – a week in advance of the Budget – called for an increase in the Winter Fuel Allowance to mitigate the effects of fuel price rises on pensioners in his constituency. John has written to Alastair Darling asking for an increase in the basic rate for 60-79 year olds from £200 to £300 to be included in next week’s Budget.

John said “with prices spiralling out of control and increases of up to 25% we need to act now to make sure people in my constituency will still be able to heat their homes without breaking the bank – or even more worryingly, to make sure they don’t go without.”

“The Chancellor needs to make sure that the poorest in society can afford energy prices and make this a priority in his Budget next week. Without the input of this Government many people in Glasgow would be worse off by hundreds of pounds, but it is not enough for us to rest on past achievements. We need to make sure that the Winter Fuel Allowance meets the conditions we see today – the most important of these being the rapidly increasing prices.”

“It is estimated that around 4 million households in the UK are in fuel poverty where 10 per cent of more of their income is spent on heating their home and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform estimates that a 1 per cent increase in energy prices pushes an extra 40,000 homes into fuel poverty. It should be a priority to help these people and I hope the Government will hear my call for a £100 increase in the basic rate of the Winter Fuel Allowance.”

John Robertson MP
Member of Parliament for Glasgow North West

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