John Robertson, MP for Glasgow North West, welcomed the increases in Winter Fuel Allowance in the Chancellor’s first Budget today to mitigate the effects of fuel price rises on pensioners.

John wrote to Alastair Darling calling for an increase in the basic rate in February and repeated this call in Treasury questions in the House of Commons last week.

John said “I am very pleased that the Chancellor has taken this step that I have been calling for to increase support for pensioners who are struggling with rising energy prices. It was vital for the Government to take action with double digit price rises from the major energy providers and more than 15,000 people in my constituency will be better off as a result.”

 “Without this Government there would be no winter fuel allowance at all. It would be easy to rest on this and past achievements so I am pleased to see the Chancellor building on the good work and also taking account of the changes we have seen in circumstances with energy price increases.

“Keeping warm is a basic human right so the increase in £50 for pensioners over 60, meaning a payment of £250, and of £100 for those over 80, providing a payment of £400 and it was crucial for the Government to safeguard this.”

John added, “I did call for a £100 increase for over 60’s and whilst I was disappointed not to see this met in full I am pleased the Chancellor has moved in the right direction. I will be pushing the Treasury on this to make sure that the over 60s in my constituency are able to afford to heat their homes and I have been granted a debate on this in the House of Commons next Monday.”

John Robertson MP
Member of Parliament for Glasgow North West
0207 219 6964