COLD WEATHER AND WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS

That this House calls on the Government to increase cold weather and winter fuel payments to pensioners and vulnerable households during the prolonged period of cold weather; notes warnings from leading charities such as Age Concern and Help the Aged that existing support will not be enough to prevent a soaring death rate among older people; expresses concern that cold weather and winter fuel payments have not kept pace with the soaring increases in domestic energy bills over recent years; understands that the combination of the extreme weather, increasing bills and the real difficulties people face because of the recession make the situation much worse than in previous years; and calls on the Government to increase its support for vulnerable households.