IN BUDGET NEXT WEEK GIVE FAMILIES WITH DISABLED CHILDREN HELP THEY NEED TO STAY WARM IN WINTER- MULHOLLAND

12.49.59pm GMT Thu 20th Mar 2008

Greg Mulholland, MP for Leeds North West, has tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling for the Government to extend Winter Fuel Payments to families with severely disabled children under 5, to help them keep warm and free of illness in the winter months.

The motion calls upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Alistair Darling, to include this provision in the budget announcement next Wednesday, and it has been signed by MPs from right across the House and is co-sponsored by both Labour and Conservative MPs.

Commenting on the initiative Mr Mulholland said:

"Families across the country with severely disabled young children face huge problems just keeping those children warm and free of illness in the winter months.

"For just £8.9 million - a drop in the ocean of the Government's huge budget for the year - thousands of families can be given the help they need to keep their young children warm in winter.

"I hope that the Chancellor will recognise this and include a commitment to help these families when he announces the budget next week.

"These families already have enough to contend with, and this simple, inexpensive plan could make a huge difference to their lives."