Speaking in a Westminster Hall debate on support for pensioners, Dame Harriett Baldwin highlighted the impact of the scrapping of the winter fuel allowance on one of her constituents. She also raised concerns about Marie Curie Cancer Care’s finding that the removal of the allowance affects 44,000 terminally ill pensioners.
Dame Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con)
I congratulate my hon. Friend on the excellent speech that he is making. Only today I heard from a pensioner in West Worcestershire on an income of £13,500 who was stripped of his winter fuel allowance last year. He is having to live in only one room, as that is all he can afford to heat. Is my hon. Friend as shocked as I was to hear that example?
Blake Stephenson (Mid Bedfordshire) (Con)
I am absolutely shocked, and I will come on to mention a few stories from my own constituents. They are very similar, and I think we are hearing these stories up and down the country.
Dame Harriett Baldwin
The hon. Gentleman mentions the important role that third-sector organisations play in our society. Was he as shocked as I was to learn from Marie Curie cancer care not only that the increase in national insurance will cost it several million pounds a year, but that the winter fuel allowance is being taken from 44,000 terminally ill pensioners?
Seamus Logan (Aberdeenshire North and Moray East) (SNP)
I completely agree with the hon. Member —that is absolutely shocking. I was not aware of that particular statistic, but I have spoken several times on the Floor of the House about the plight of hospices.