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£10.99BBC Wales News’ political editor Gareth Lewis reported that Wales’ first minister, Eluned Morgan, has expressed her approval of the UK government’s reversal on means-testing winter fuel payments for pensioners. In response to the policy change last year, Morgan had urged for a reassessment, and her concerns were acknowledged by the prime minister when he stated in the Commons his desire to broaden the eligibility criteria for the payment.
Following the announcement, Morgan stated her delight in the prime minister’s responsiveness to her expressed worries regarding the proposed cuts to winter fuel payments. She highlighted the significant level of unease felt by individuals across Wales due to the changes and eagerly awaits more details on how the payment scheme will be revised, with expectations of a rollout in the autumn, potentially during the budget period. The alterations to the payments have affected around 400,000 homes in Wales, with payments previously being accessible to all state pension-age individuals until last winter when income restrictions were introduced.
Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on work and pensions, Ann Davies, responded to the prime minister’s comments by indicating that pensioners may find little solace in them, advocating for a complete abandonment of the winter fuel payment cuts. Meanwhile, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick called for a more substantial proposal from the prime minister and emphasized the need for an apology to the affected individuals. The Welsh Conservatives have been approached for their stance on the matter, with both Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives urging the introduction of a tailored winter fuel payment scheme in Wales to counteract the effects of last year’s modifications, a suggestion dismissed by the first minister previously.
As the debate over winter fuel payments continues, different political parties in Wales have expressed varying stances on the issue, with concerns raised about the impact of the changes on pensioners in the region. The development of the new payment scheme, expected to be unveiled during the autumn, remains a focal point of interest among Welsh residents as they await further details on how they will be affected by the revisions outlined by the UK government
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