GIVE DISABLED PEOPLE THE HELP THEY DESPERATELY NEED TO KEEP WARM AT CHRISTMAS - MULHOLLAND

12.00.00am GMT Mon 27th Nov 2006

Leeds MP Greg Mulholland has called upon the Government to recognise the difficulties faced by seriously disabled people in the winter months by extending winter fuel payments currently received by the elderly to the seriously disabled under 60.

Greg raised the case of his constituent Matthew Pinder in Parliament today, who is just 21 years old but faces severe difficulty in staying warm in winter because of his condition. Indeed, his mother, Matthew's main carer, is often forced to keep the heating on for over 20 hours a day in the constant battle to prevent him from becoming ill.

Commenting Greg said:

"How can the Government justify giving winter fuel payments to those over 60 at particular risk in the winter months because of the cold, but not to those seriously disabled under 60 who are at exactly the same risk?

"Once all the costs of all the other basic needs like food and transport which are present all year round are considered, it is clear that the current benefits these families receive to spend on heating is nowhere near enough - otherwise families like the Pinders would not have to borrow money merely to make ends meet.

"Keeping warm is a basic human need. It is also essential to avoiding what are, particularly to the seriously disabled, potentially devastating illnesses. The Government must recognise this and give seriously disabled people the help they desperately need to stay warm at Christmas."