NORTH Somerset MP said the winter fuel payment will be “means tested so we can continue to support those who need the benefit most”.

A Conservative motion to annul the Government’s cuts to winter fuel payments was defeated by 348 votes to 228, majority 120, in the House of Commons.

Both North Somerset and Weston MPs, respectively Sadik Al-Hassan and Dan Aldridge, voted to go ahead with the cut.

MP Al-Hassan said: "The first thing to say on Winter Fuel Allowance is we are not scrapping the payment just making it means tested so we can continue to support those who need the benefit most like pensioners in receipt of Pension Credit.

“We are also working on linking housing benefits to Pension credit so we can include more of the people missed in just paying the new threshold.

“This decision was necessary because the previous government made a series of unfunded spending commitments and left a £22bn black hole in the country’s finances this year which required immediate action.

“It is very easy for those who don't care what happens to public finances and the greater cost to the country of unfunded spending like the Lib Dems or last Tory Government to make noise about this despite it being one of their previous manifesto pledges in 2017.

“We have to live with the situation that we have inherited and make the tough choices now to fix public finances.

“As a consequence, the government has been forced to make in-year spending cuts in order to tackle the in-year deficit.

“If no action had been taken to repair the Conservatives’ black hole then it would have put the UK’s financial stability at risk, possibly leading to higher prices, mortgages and rents.

“When Liz Truss lost control of the economy it was ordinary people, including pensioners, who paid the price.

“The recent payment to settle strikes with the previous Governments pay review has added to the debt we face as the review was started with a framework from the previous Government with no money allocated to pay it.

“To grow the economy, we have to end the strikes as people can't work if they are off sick waiting for surgery and we need to reset our relationship with Public Sector workers whose salaries have gone down by 1 per cent in real terms over the last 16 years (Source IFS).

“Public Sector workers include Hospital Doctors, Nurses and Teachers who have been particularly hard hit from the previous Government's choices.

“As the Chancellor explained, this was not a decision that she wanted to or expected to make, but it was the right decision to get our country’s finances on a firmer footing.

“By taking the tough decisions now to protect the public finances we can begin the process of change.

“By providing economic stability, we can begin to attract the investment and growth our country desperately needs in order to fund our public services.

“The government is committed to protecting the triple lock on pensions over the lifetime of this parliament.

“The triple lock saw the new state pension rise by over £900 this year, and a further rise will be announced at the budget next month.

“And because of our commitment to the triple lock, pensions are projected to increase by over £1,000 in the next five years.

“In addition, we are prioritising support for pensioners through our Warm Homes Plan which will support investment in insulation and low carbon heating and upgrade millions of homes over this parliament.

“The government is also prioritising rebuilding our public services especially the NHS, which many pensioners and others rely on.

“We have committed to reducing NHS waiting times to 18 weeks, ensuring people can see their GP and rebuilding our NHS.

“We also know that those with the broadest shoulders should bear the heavier burden.

“That includes cracking down on non-doms, tackling tax avoidance, ending the tax break on private schools, strengthening the powers of the water regulator, and backing tough fines on water companies.

“This government is absolutely determined to do everything possible to protect the poorest in society.

“We have announced this week that we will extend the Household Support Fund, providing £500m of targeted support for those in the greatest need.

“And, because winter fuel payments will continue for anyone in receipt of pension credit, we have also launched a new cross government campaign to boost its uptake – because only two thirds of pensioners entitled to pension credit actually claim it.

“You can apply for the Household Support Fund on this link: https://n-somerset.gov.uk/my-services/benefits-support/other-benefits-support/household-support-fund

“Under the last Tory government, over 800,000 eligible pensioners didn’t get the benefits they were entitled to.

“While they failed on Pension Credit, we are determined to make a difference and ensure thousands of pensioners claim Pension Credit which will unlock winter fuel payments and other benefits.

“I encourage you, your friends, family and neighbours to check if you or they are eligible by visiting the following link: www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility or by calling the Pension Credit claim line at 0800 99 1234.

“This government will always be open and transparent with the public about the state of the public finances and the tough choices we must take to protect our economic stability.

“This includes the difficult decision on Winter Fuel Payments.

“But we also know that it is pensioners with fixed incomes who would suffer if we took reckless decisions like the Conservatives did under Liz Truss.

“That’s why we will continue to take the necessary decisions and protect the most vulnerable through our plan to fix the foundations of our country.

“I am personally committed to working with my Cabinet colleagues to review the payments in the future to maximise the impact for the poorest in receipt of it and the support available for those who need it.

"Should any constituent need help with a query please email me on sadik.alhassan.mp@parliament.uk"