NO HELP FOR SEVERELY DISABLED CHILDREN IN BUDGET - MULHOLLAND

12.47.01pm GMT Thu 20th Mar 2008

The Chancellor, Alistair Darling, has ignored calls by charities, politicians and families with severely disabled children under the age of 5 to extend winter fuel payments to cover these children in his budget announcement.

Greg Mulholland MP, who led the calls for this measure in an Early Day Motion tabled in the House of Commons last week has slammed the Chancellor for ignoring the plight of these families in the Government's spending plans.

Commenting Mr Mulholland said:

"It is very disappointing that the Chancellor has ignored those families across the country with severely disabled children, and the problems they face keeping these children warm in Winter.

"Extending Winter Fuel Payments to these families who have been a really simple and inexpensive way of providing the help that these families desperately need.

"Yet the Chancellor has ignored these children, preferring to use his budget to help the rich, instead of families living dangerously close to the breadline."