He says the contrast between the rapid reaction to protests over applying duty to boat fuel and the failure to do anything to help pensioners with a winter fuel allowance shows where ministers’ real priorities lie.
Senator Shenton’s amendment to the Business Plan to implement the winter fuel allowance by next April – with a retrospective payment to cover this coming winter – is being contested by ministers who want to put it off until the end of the year.
In the UK people aged over 60 receive an annual payment to help with the costs of keeping warm.
Those aged 60-79 get either £100 or £200, and those over 80 an extra 50%.
At their meeting last week the Council of Ministers agreed to contest Senator Shenton’s proposal – which follows his successful amendment to the Strategic Plan earlier this year.
