With the price of gas and electricity leaping higher than an Alaskan salmon, anything that can ease the pressure on our overstretched pockets is to be welcomed.
After all, as the slogan says, every little helps…
Now it appears that under plans being drawn up by Gordon Brown, over 7 million families receiving child benefit are to be given a one-off payment of £150 to help meet their soaring fuel bills.
This £1 billion handout is expected to form a key part of the prime minister’s autumn fightback after a fairly dismal first 14 months in power.
Hmm, it is definitely a welcome bit of help but we feel he has long way to go to convince many of us that he is still up to the job!
Information about the winter fuel payment scheme were inadvertently revealed by a top civil servant who was overheard discussing it on a train! Sir Brian Bender, permanent secretary at the Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform, told a colleague that ministers were keen to give extra money to “ordinary people” worried about rising energy bills.
When asked whether the energy payments would be aimed at disadvantaged groups, Bender replied: “No, a fuel rebate for everybody on child benefit.”
Previously, winter fuel benefits have been paid only to the over-60s, who will receive at least £250 this year.
Child benefit is paid to all families with children under 16 and older teenagers in full-time education or training.
The plan to extend the scheme to 7.5 million families with children is because of the rising anger over rising household energy costs. It also highlights Brown’s desperate need for a a new strategy to silence his growing number of critics.
It had been widely expected that any extra financial assistance for utilities would be targeted at pensioners, the low-paid and people on benefits who suffer from “fuel poverty”; the latter is defined as when more than 10% of household income is used to heat the home.
However, Brown is determined that middle-class families should also gain from any new handouts.
Michael Fallon, Conservative chairman of the Commons Treasury scrutiny committee, said:
“This is blatant, indiscriminate electioneering in one of the final winters before the general election.”
A Whitehall source said the fuel payment was likely to be set at £150 per family, saying:
“It has to be set lower than the amount currently paid to pensioners,” he said, “but high enough that people will really notice the difference.”
In another stunning Government initiative, ministers are also drawing up a scheme to pay for pensioners to take holidays in British resorts with relatives who look after them. The government would not only pay the hotel and travel bills of a pensioner but also provide a professional carer to accompany them.
Officials are also examining a range of possible taxes to pay for the new benefits. About £500 million is likely to be raised through a “green tax” on power suppliers, and Brown is still considering a separate windfall levy on utility companies.
So, while £150 is a welcome boost to the millions of families who are in most need is it really fair? After all, surely we could all do with a bit of help towards our growing energy bills?
Why not let us know what you think?
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