Pensioners Cost of Living 2025-04-08
2025-04-08
TAGS
Response quality
Questions & Answers
Q1
Partial Answer
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Context
The MP referenced a constituent who sent an email with a photo showing her home temperature at 15°C, highlighting the struggle to stay warm during winter due to high energy bills.
I have 250 pieces of outstanding casework relating to the winter fuel payment. An elderly constituent emailed me during the winter, enclosing a picture showing that her thermometer was at 15° and saying that she had to remain in bed for as long as possible each day to stay warm. Given that energy bills are now increasing, does the Minister agree that the decision to cut the winter fuel payment has already had serious consequences for the welfare of pensioners throughout the country?
What the Government are doing is raising the state pension, extending the warm home discount, and ensuring that an extra 50,000 people have had access to pension credit over the last six months. When Members talk about mistakes that have had lasting consequences for pensioners, I look back to the coalition Government’s decision to cut the rate of energy installations by 90%. Pensioners are living with that legacy, in leaky homes, day in day out, but this Government are getting on with insulating homes throughout the country.
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Assessment & feedback
Cutting the winter fuel payment
Looking Back To Coalition Government'S Decision
Response accuracy
Q2
Direct Answer
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Context
The MP noted that a 4.1% increase in the new state pension would significantly help pensioners but asked for further actions to address the cost of living crisis inherited from the previous government.
The 4.1% increase in the new state pension will make a huge difference to pensioners in my constituency. What more are the Government doing to tackle the cost of living crisis left by the last Government?
I thank my hon. Friend for being a regular attender at Treasury questions, and indeed, as far as I can work out, at every other departmental questions session. He is right to suggest that we will do more, because we are not just increasing pensions above the rate of inflation this year but doing so throughout the current Parliament, and that should raise the state pension by up to £1,900 by the end of the Parliament.
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Assessment & feedback
Response accuracy