winter payments

Give rural people hit by wood burner crackdown state cash

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This article demonstrates the case for rural proofing of this policy. It rightly suggests that rural dwellers affected by this urban policy should be compensated. It tells us:

Public Health England estimates that the health impact from long-term exposure to particulate pollution is equivalent to 29,000 deaths each year. Not only does air pollution make people unwell and cause suffering, but it increases costs and puts pressure on the NHS too. Public Health England warns that the costs of air pollution to society could exceed £5.1bn by 2035 if nothing is done. 

Through the groundbreaking Environment Bill, which has started its passage through Parliament earlier this week, the Government will set a new legally-binding target for PM2.5, recognising its uniquely dangerous effect on our health. But the easy part is setting the target. The hard part is taking action to cut emissions. 

There are a number of ways in which particulate emissions from solid fuel burning can be reduced. Upgrading an open fire or an old stove to a modern, efficient stove is one option.

Link unemployment benefit to personal contributions, urges think-tank

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One of two articles about future financial plans – I actually find this thinking quite innovative and refreshing. Although I suspect the requirement to opt into the winter fuel allowance would disadvantage many elderly rural dwellers, particularly if it had to be done online.

An unemployment insurance scheme reflecting personal contributions is being examined by the Treasury as it seeks £12.5bn in welfare savings for if the Conservatives are re-elected in May.

The radical proposal is one of several set out by the right-of-centre thinktank Policy Exchange, including cuts in child benefit for those with more than four children. The thinktank, which has close ties to the chancellor, George Osborne, also proposes that pensioners should be asked to opt in to receive their winter fuel payment rather than receive it automatically.

The package comes ahead of speeches on Wednesday about how to make welfare savings by the work and pensions secretary, Iain Duncan Smith, his opposition Labour counterpart, Rachel Reeves, and the former Labour cabinet minister David Blunkett.

Policy Exchange believes its proposals on child benefit and the winter fuel allowance would save up to £1.5bn by 2020.

The winter fuel allowance is not means tested and goes automatically to all those receiving the basic state pension, regardless of their financial situation.

The Treasury is known to be studying plans for the contributory jobseeker’s allowance to be replaced with a new national unemployment scheme and system of personal welfare accounts, funded by a 1% cut in the National Insurance rate. Every worker in Britain would contribute a small proportion of their weekly earnings into both a new nationwide unemployment insurance scheme and a personal pot called MyFund. The funds would be used in times of unemployment, with people who have been in work all their lives set to benefit from £10,000 on retirement.