Speaking in a debate on the impact of changes to the Winter Fuel Payment on pensioner poverty and hospital admissions, Dame Harriett Baldwin highlights the shocking statistic that of the millions of pensioners who lost their winter fuel payment, 44,000 are estimated to have been terminally ill.

Dame Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con)

My hon. Friend is making a powerful speech. It is absolutely right that we ask the questions we are asking today. The statistic that has shocked me most in this debate is that of the millions of pensioners who lost their winter fuel payment, 44,000 are estimated to have been terminally ill. Is she as shocked as I am by that statistic?

Helen Whately (Faversham and Mid Kent) (Con)

I was indeed extremely shocked by that statistic; that is one reason why we need to have this debate today and try to get some of the data out of the Government. They were at the time, and continue to be, incredibly reluctant to share whatever they know about the impact of this cut on people, including the terminally ill.

Hansard