Budget delivers winter fuel payment boost

Date published: 12 March 2008

Rochdale’s Labour Parliamentary Candidate, Simon Danczuk, today welcomed measures introduced in the Chancellor’s Budget to make life easier for thousands of pensioners in Rochdale.

In his first Budget, Alistair Darling increased the winter fuel payment from £300 to £400 to over 80s and from £200 to £250 for over 60s.

"I am pleased that nearly 16,000 households in Rochdale will get extra cash to pay their heating bills this year," said Mr Danczuk. "That the Chancellor has promised further action, with the energy companies and Ofgem, to help vulnerable groups deal with rising energy prices shows that this Government is determined to fight fuel poverty."

The Chancellor warned energy companies that they would be forced to contribute more to helping the elderly meet their fuel costs and said he wanted to see an increase of £100 million a year in the money they spend on social tariffs. 

Mr Danczuk added that the Chancellor’s Budget was a commitment to economic stability, opportunity and security for all.

Other announcements included an investment of £1.7billion to help lift 250,000 children out of poverty, the bringing forward of a £20 increase in child benefits payments by a year, an investment of £8billion on affordable housing, a pledge to make all new non-domestic buildings carbon neutral by 2019, an extra £200million for schools to ensure that none have fewer than 30 per cent of its pupils achieving five A-C GCSE grades and financial support to help encourage more female entrepreneurs.

"Despite the external challenges of a global economic slowdown, this Government is able to continue to invest in a sustainable future," added Danczuk.  "We are investing in eradicating child poverty, schools, strengthening business and prosperity and helping people get on the housing ladder.

"I welcome the Budget focus on tackling two of the big issues of today - child poverty and climate change. Under Labour, we have had 10 years of economic stability and growth – let’s not put that at risk."