AT an open meeting, hosted by the York Older People's Forum, York MP Hugh Bayley confirmed that the winter fuel allowance would be paid again by a Labour Government. But he did not confirm any amount.
The insulting 25p age addition pension payment for the over-80s was also aired. The 1998 Green Paper did not address the problem. A glaring omission. Neither has there been any reference to the proposed increase to £20 per week, payable at age 75.
While this is fully supported by Help The Aged and Age Concern, Mr Bayley offered no comment, except to say that, so far, the Government has been unable to address the issue.
The many pensioners over 80 in the York area will be disappointed. A report by the Government Actuary shows that in March 2000 the National Insurance Fund had a colossal unneeded surplus of £5.9 billion.
David Hughes,
Elm Parkway,
York.
Updated: 11:23 Monday, February 05, 2001
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