Cold Weather and Winter fuel payments should be increased in light of the prolonged cold winter weather.

SNP Westminster Energy spokesperson Mike Weir MP has backed demands by leading charities Age Concern and Help the Aged  for the UK Government to increase cold weather fuel payments to pensioners and vulnerable households. Mr Weir is set to raise the issue in parliament next week.

Angus MP Mike Weir said:

“This has not just been a cold snap, but a sustained period of freezing weather which seems set to continue and the UK government must take immediate action to help vulnerable households.

“Cold weather and winter fuel payments have not kept pace with the soaring increases in domestic energy bills over recent years and UK
Ministers must take action to help vulnerable households – many of which were already in fuel poverty.

“Clearly a combination of the extreme weather, increasing bills and the real difficulties people face because of the recession make the situation much worse than in previous years.

“Not only is the UK Government failing to deal with fuel poverty, but some policy, such as the levy on domestic heating oil or liquid petroleum gas users in rural areas will make matters worse - these
energy customers do not have access to the social tariffs available to gas customers, for example.

“Westminster needs a wake up call on fuel poverty and the SNP will be leading demands in parliament next week for an increase in help for vulnerable households.”