WINTER FUEL PAYMENTS FOR SEVERELY DISABLED PEOPLE

That this House welcomes the campaign to extend winter fuel payments to severely disabled people; notes that disabled people are twice as likely to live in poverty as non-disabled people; further notes the relationship between low income and fuel poverty; recognises the many disabled people who are at home all day and do not currently receive a payment to help cope with the burden of increased heating costs; believes the current system of winter fuel payments should be reformed and extended to all severely disabled people, paid for by delaying age-related winter fuel payments until people reach 65; further notes this reform would generate cost savings for the Treasury; and congratulates Papworth Trust for raising this important issue and its campaign to better educate disabled people on how to keep warm in the cold winter months.