Benefits review called for
Bath MP Don Foster has called for universal age-related benefits such as winter fuel payments to be reviewed.
The 65-year-old newly-appointed Communities Minister said he did not think it was right that he received the heating allowance given his salary.
One of the ways to cut the welfare bill was to look at some of the benefits received by wealthier people, he said.
His comments came as his Lib Dem party colleague Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg also cast doubt on the future of some universal benefits.
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Speaking at his party conference in Brighton, Mr Clegg said: "My own view is that all parties will need to confront the simple irony, which is that we are giving free bus passes and TV licences and winter fuel payments to (entrepreneurs) Alan Sugar and Peter Stringfellow while limiting housing benefit to families on much lower incomes. I do not think that is sustainable in the long term."
Speaking on the BBC, Mr Foster said: "It's not yet Liberal Democrat policy, it's something we'll work on. But you know, if there is something that can be done now then we need to get the economy moving now, not just to put it in a Liberal Democrat manifesto for 2015.
"If we can get something like this implemented now, then that would be better. I just think there's some examples where if we are going to, as our prime move, to get the richest in society to make a bigger contribution… some of the things they get, frankly, no longer should they get."
Comments
by iamtheuser
Thursday, September 27 2012, 4:43PM
“Disabled people who are not OAP's should receive these allowances, many younger disabled adults need this allowance much more than some older people who qualify who have money and are sometimes a lot more fit than someone who is a younger adult with MND for example!”
by lamail
Thursday, September 27 2012, 3:58PM
“Yeah pinching back old folks bus passes and free coal - what a vote winner that is.The liberals need to stop coming up with "ideas" its not their strong point.”