Payments worth £8.8 million went to pensioners in Spain
Katie Gibbons
British taxpayers are spending more than £20 million each year on winter fuel payments to people living across Europe.
Iain Duncan Smith, the Work and Pensions Secretary, blamed a sharp increase on a “ridiculous” ruling by the
European Court of Justice, which has widened the rules of entitlement.
Payments worth £21.4 million were made in 2012-13, including £8.8 million to pensioners in Spain and £5.1 million to those in France, according to figures published by the Department for Work and Pensions.
In 2011-2012 the total paid to people living in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland was £12.8 million.
Mr Duncan Smith said: “The huge increase in UK winter fuel payments made to people living in EEA countries equates to a near doubling in costs to the British taxpayer and follows a ridiculous ruling by the European Court of Justice. The winter fuel payment is intended to help British pensioners. From winter 2015 to 2016, we are changing the rules so that it no longer goes to people in EEA countries with an average winter temperature higher than the warmest part of the UK.”
A total of 119,587 households across Europe received the winter fuel payment 2012-13 which is an increase of 60 per cent.
These latest figures are released amid public anger over the decision by energy companies to increase fuel bills.
The National Audit Office has warned that consumers face 17 years of above-inflation increases in energy and water bills as households fund the renewal of Britain’s ageing infrastructure.
The NAO said the Government had little idea of the impact the continued price increases would have on households or whether they would even be affordable, particularly for those on the lowest incomes.
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