Support For Increase In Winter Fuel

Ulster Unionist Social Development Spokesman Billy Armstrong has given his Party's backing to Margaret Ritchie's efforts to secure additional funding from Westminster to increase the Winter Fuel Payment.

The Mid-Ulster MLA said;

"The Social Development Minister is in London today to meet with James Purnell, the Work & Pensions Minister, in a bid to persuade him to provide funding to increase the Winter Fuel Payment.

As Ulster Unionist Spokesman on Social Development issues, I have written to Mr Purnell to assure him that on this issue at least, Margaret Ritchie has the full support of the Ulster Unionist Party, and that Northern Ireland is at a disadvantage compared to the rest of the United Kingdom due to higher fuel costs and lower wages.

The justification for the increase is the rise in the cost of domestic heating which is on top of the other increases in the cost of living which have hit people - particularly pensioners and those on fixed incomes - very hard and increased the number of our citizens living in fuel poverty.

Recently released figures from the Consumer Council showed that people are now paying more than £200 more for electricity than in November last year, and £153 more for heating oil. In light of this I believe that it is only fair that the Winter Fuel Payment be increased to help alleviate the burden."