Lib Dems renew winter fuel pledge

The Liberal Democrats have renewed their vow to extend winter fuel payments to disabled people and to replace the “daft” disability living allowance (DLA) with a fairer benefit.

During an event for the Every Disabled Child Matters campaign, Jenny Willott MP, shadow secretary for work and pensions, plugged the party’s plans for a single working age benefit.

She said rates of DLA were “nowhere near sufficient” to cover the costs of living for disabled families. She said take-up of the benefit was “bad” and that it was “daft” to exclude certain groups of people from the higher rate.

Ms Willott also said that the Liberal Democrats would extend winter fuel payments to disabled people on the highest rate of DLA.

Following that, Annette Brooke MP, spokeswoman for children, young people and families, said families with disabled children desperately need more respite care and quality childcare.

She said: “The Childcare Act 2006 gave parents of disabled children a right to childcare but with no money attached to it. The money is slowly trickling in but it’s not enough.”

She continued: “We have commitments that parents will be entitled to respite care and yet talking to my constituents, I’m not convinced it is happening.”

The Liberal Democrats have vowed to devise a system of more affordable, quality childcare so that parents of disabled children have the option to work.