Cold Weather Payments

EDM number 348 in 1995-96, proposed by Liz Lynne on 29/01/1996.

That this House notes that the most recent Government figures show that in 1994 there was a total of 305 deaths of pensioners where hypothermia was mentioned on the death certificate; notes that this figure is certainly an underestimate of the actual number of deaths; notes also that according to Age Concern a third of all pensioner households have an indoor winter temperature below 16 centigrade (61 fahrenheit) which is the temperature at which shops and offices can legally be closed down; notes further that the current cold weather payments seven day rule fails to give pensioners the confidence to start heating their households as soon as severe cold weather starts, that cold weather payments are limited to pensioners on income support, yet take-up on income support is lowest amongst pensioners, with one-third of eligible pensioners not taking up income support; further notes that the cold weather payments system only includes one flat payment whatever the severity of weather; and therefore calls upon the Government urgently to consider relaxing the strict

This motion has been signed by a total of 65 MPs.