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RENNIE CALLS FOR ACTION TO PROTECT AGAINST WINTER CHILL FOR ELDERLY
September 4, 2006 3:55 PM
Willie Rennie, Liberal Democrat MP for Dunfermline and West Fife today called on the government to do more to protect against winter deaths after new research found that as many as half of Scotland's elderly population are risking their lives by failing to plan ahead for the winter.
Research by the Home Heat Helpline found that the majority of Scots over 55 were unaware of grants, benefits and heat saving measures available to them. Mr Rennie is calling on the government to do more to make pensioners aware of the assistance to which they are entitled.
Mr Rennie has today written to the energy minister Malcolm Wicks urging the government to do more to protect the elderly and vulnerable this coming winter and calling for further action to raise awareness of the help available.
In a statement Willie Rennie said:
"With over half of over 55s in Scotland now cutting back on heating in an effort to reduce their heating bills it is clear that the government needs to do more to protect vulnerable pensioners from the winter chill.
"There are a range of benefits available to help elderly people heat and insulate their homes. However, clearly the message is failing to get through.
"Fuel poverty is closely linked with pensioner poverty. The harsh fact is that as long as the state pension remains insufficient to live on, there will continue to be elderly people forced to choose between heating their homes, and putting food on their plates.
ENDS
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