Fuel allowances pushed back to next term

Monday 16 December 2019

Looking at ways of helping pensioners heat their homes during the colder months has not made it to the top of the priority list for the States this year meaning it is likely to be pushed back until after the election next June.

The Committee for Employment and Social Security is responsible for the winter fuel allowance, which this year has been put up by 12p per week.

Deputy Lester Queripel, who has been involved with the charity Age Concern and its own Winter Fuel Fund to help pensioners struggling during the winter months, raised it as an issue during the November States meeting.

Comparing the increase in the allowance to the increase in domestic heating bills, he asked ESS Vice President Deputy Shane Langlois "how (does) ESS expect the poorest members of our community to make up that shortfall?"

Pictured: Deputy Lester Queripel. 

Unhappy with the response he received, where Deputy Langlois referred to being embarrassed by the way the winter fuel allowance increase had been decided, and said tackling the issue was a priority, Deputy Queripel then asked a series of Rule 14 questions which, under States rules, must be answered in writing. 

The questions and the answers can be read in full here. 

In summary, ESS has told Deputy Queripel that it would still like to review the winter fuel allowance, "as the current model of a fixed price for all eligible households is no longer appropriate, particularly when some properties are very old and energy inefficient, and others are highly insulated new builds which require very little heating."

However, the Committee also said it "recognises that with time running out before the end of the political term, this may be one of the work streams that needs to be handed over to the incoming Committee through the end of term report."

The next election is due in June 2020, with the first island vote due to be held. Of those deputies on ESS, the Committee President, Deputy Michelle Le Clerc has said she will not be standing for re-election.

Pictured top: File image.