WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS FOR FAMILIES WITH SEVERELY DISABLED CHILDREN UNDER FIVE

That this House notes with deep concern research by the charity Contact which reveals that families with severely disabled children under the age of five often face considerable difficulties keeping their children warm and free from cold-related illness during the winter months; recognises that keeping these children warm often results in highly inflated heating costs and high energy bills; believes that the Government should pilot the extension of winter fuel payments to families with a severely disabled child under the age of five, which the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign believes would benefit over 40,000 families at a cost of no more than £8.9 million; and calls upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to include this specific commitment within the announcement of the Government's proposed spending plans for the coming year on 12th March.