Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living: Support for Pensioners

Tuesday 3 September 2024 · 8 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 3 Partly answered 4 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Caroline Voaden inquired about fiscal steps to support pensioners with the cost of living, emphasizing the impact of winter fuel payment cuts and rising energy prices.
  • Helen Morgan highlighted the impending loss of winter fuel payments for nearly 22,000 pensioners in North Shropshire, noting the challenges of living in older housing stock.
  • Steve Darling questioned the impact of winter fuel payment cuts on pensioners in Torbay, expressing concern over the financial challenges faced by low-income pensioners despite the government's actions.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Caroline Voaden Lib Dem South Devon
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question follows concerns about rising energy costs and the impact on pensioners' finances. The state pension has increased by £900 over a year, but many pensioners are worried about upcoming increases in energy prices.

Question

What fiscal steps is she taking to support pensioners with the cost of living?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

This Government supports the triple lock, ensuring the state pension is worth £900 more than it was a year ago. In April, it will go up by the highest of inflation, average wage growth or 2.5%. Pensioners benefit from free eye tests, prescriptions, bus passes and winter fuel payments alongside pension credit.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific measures to support pensioners during rising costs beyond referencing general benefits like the triple lock and winter fuel payments.

How: Under Review, Commitment To Policies

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Q2 Helen Morgan Lib Dem North Shropshire
Economy Energy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Nearly 22,000 pensioners in North Shropshire are losing their winter fuel payments due to energy prices rising by 10%. Many residents worry about heating older housing stock this winter.

Question

I thank the Chancellor for her answer, but nearly 22,000 pensioners in North Shropshire are forecast to lose their winter fuel payments very soon, just as energy prices for the average household are about to go up by 10%. Many of my pensioners live in bungalows and older housing stock, which is expensive to heat. A lot of them have been in touch with me to say that they are worried sick about this winter. We know the Chancellor has difficult choices to make, and we accept that, but will she consider that the broadest shoulders are not those of pensioners who earn less than the minimum wage and are about to lose this vital support?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

I understand concerns. The state pension is worth £900 more than a year ago, energy bills lower this winter. We inherited a £22 billion black hole from previous Government, who made unfunded commitments. I audited the situation and made tough decisions to put public finances on a sustainable footing, including better targeting of the winter fuel payment.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not reconsider cutting payments for pensioners below minimum wage but defended difficult decision making.

How: Difficult Choices, Sustainable Financing

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Q3 Steve Darling Lib Dem Torbay
Benefits & Welfare
Context

21,000 pensioners in Torbay will be impacted by the cut to winter fuel payments. The constituency has a high proportion of rural and older housing stock.

Question

Some 21,000 pensioners in my constituency of Torbay will be impacted by the cut. In Devon and Cornwall, almost 90% of pensioners will be impacted by it. While many of us acknowledge that the Chancellor was left with a massive financial challenge when she came into the post, I remain extremely concerned about the residents who have reached out to me and colleagues with their major concerns about making ends meet as we enter the winter period. They have had no time to save and it is a complete shock to them. What assurances can the Chancellor give that the Government will support those who are most vulnerable? If those measures fail, what assurances can she give that she will scrap the proposal?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. He will be a powerful representative for Torbay constituents. This Government are taking action to ensure lowest income pensioners get support through pension credit and working with Age UK, local authorities to play their part in identifying entitled but non-receiving pensioners.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide concrete assurances about supporting vulnerable pensioners or considering scrapping cuts if measures fail.

How: Assuring Support, Vulnerable Pensioners

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Q4 Caroline Voaden Lib Dem South Devon
Energy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Pensioners in South Devon are concerned about rising energy prices and lack of pension credit despite living in rural areas with high heating costs.

Question

The Chancellor's announcement of cuts to the winter fuel payment was quickly followed by news of a 10% increase in the energy price cap. South Devon has a higher than average number of pensioners, many of whom are living in fuel poverty and not entitled to pension credit. What assurance can the Chancellor give that this Government will help warm their homes and ensure they do not struggle to heat their homes this winter?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

Pensioners in South Devon receive a basic state pension worth £900 more than last year, and energy prices are lower this winter. Many will be entitled to pension credit due to previous Government failure to act on it adequately.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide assurances about plans to support elderly in fuel poverty beyond referencing state pension increases and energy price caps.

How: Reiterating Benefits

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Q5 Sam Rushworth Lab Bishop Auckland
Energy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Village of Copley in Bishop Auckland faces high snowfall and many residents receive basic state pensions but are not entitled to pension credit. They struggle with heating costs due to cold stone-built houses.

Question

The village of Copley, in my constituency, is the snowiest in England and we have many pensioners in receipt of the basic state pension who are, none the less, in fuel poverty. They live in cold, stone-built houses. What assurance can the Chancellor give to those pensioners that this Government will help to warm their homes and ensure they do not struggle to heat their homes this winter?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

This Government have committed to insulating an additional 5 million homes during the course of this Parliament, ensuring energy bills are lower and homes warmer. This will help constituents in Copley and across the country.

Answered
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Q6 Peter Swallow Lab Bracknell
Economy Benefits & Welfare
Context

Concern about the damage caused by the previous Government's decision to cover up a £22 billion black hole in public finances.

Question

Will the Chancellor explain to the House the damage done to pensioners' livelihoods by the previous Government's economic incompetence and their decision to cover up the £22 billion black hole in the public finances?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

The previous Government made spending commitments without funding them, leading to a £22 billion deficit. We inherited road and rail projects, A-levels reforms, and the Rwanda deal among other unfunded commitments, inheriting a dire situation which we are fixing.

Answered
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Q7 Jim Dickson Lab Dartford
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question concerns the commitment to a state pension increase based on wage growth, inflation or 2.5%—whichever is higher.

Question

Will the Chancellor confirm that a state pension increase will be announced at the Budget and that it will be equivalent to wage growth, inflation or 2.5%—whichever is higher?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

The Government have committed to the triple lock not just for this year, but for the duration of this Parliament. That means that pensioners are £900 better off than they were a year ago. Based on September earnings and inflation data, we will uprate pensions next year by whichever is higher: 2.5%, inflation or average earnings. We are ensuring that pensioners get the pensions that they are entitled to and have contributed to.

Answered
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Q8 Laura Trott Con Sevenoaks
Benefits & Welfare
Context

The question references the Chancellor's previous stance on means-testing winter fuel payments and criticises recent proposals to remove them for pensioners earning just £13,000 a year.

Question

Ten years ago, the now Chancellor argued in this House that winter fuel payments should be means-tested and cut for “the richest pensioners”. The Chancellor's 10-year campaign has now come to fruition and she has proposed removing the winter fuel payment from pensioners on just £13,000 a year. Does she still think that a pensioner on £13,000 a year is rich?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

What came to an end in July was 14 years of a Conservative Government who presided over a fall in living standards, the highest tax burden in 70 years, a debt, as a share of our economy, of almost 100%, and a £22 billion black hole in the public finances just this year. What we have not heard from those on the Opposition Front Bench, or indeed from any Conservative Member of Parliament, is an apology for the mess that they have left this country in, which this Government are now picking up.

Not addressed: The specific question about whether a pensioner earning £13,000 annually can be considered wealthy was not addressed.

How: Attack

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