Pensioners must have confidence on winter heating support – Swinney

Pensioners must have “confidence” about their financial support for fuel bills over the winter, John Swinney has said.

The First Minister said his policy of a universal pension age winter fuel payment of at least £100 would last throughout the next term of the Scottish Parliament.

He had earlier pledged that the payment will be introduced by St Andrew’s Day on November 30.

The First Minister sought to contrast his own government’s action on winter heating support with the UK Government’s decision to means test its own winter fuel payment for the elderly.

UK ministers have acknowledged this decision, which was made in order to help balance public finances, has contributed to Labour’s recent poor election results.

In Scotland, the winter fuel payment was replaced with the pension age winter heating payment (PAWHP) last year, as part of the devolution of welfare powers.

Under the Scottish Government’s plans for the winter, every pensioner household will receive £100, and some will receive £200 or £300 depending on their age and means.

About one million pensioners are expected to benefit from the policy.

Mr Swinney spoke about the policy as he campaigned ahead of the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election.

He told the PA news agency: “The Labour government took away winter fuel payments, and the SNP government has restored those winter fuel payments.

“And we’ll have them distributed to people before the onset of winter, before St Andrew’s Day.

“And that’s a mark of the mood within this by-election, where people are absolutely fed up of the Labour Party not delivering and are seeing the SNP delivering on their behalf.”

About £100 million is believed to have been allocated to the PAWHP policy this year.

Asked if the winter heating policy would stand the test of time, Mr Swinney said: “The winter fuel payment is an essential part of household income for pensioners.

“It was ridiculous that the Labour government took this away as one of their first acts when they came into government last summer.

“The SNP government has restored that and we will maintain that payment throughout the parliamentary term because it’s so important that pensioners have the confidence that they know they’re getting that payment and it can be part of how they plan for their heating costs over winter.”