Burnham-On-Sea’s MP confronted the Prime Minister on Wednesday (October 27th) over new figures that show more than 400 people die every winter in Somerset owing to the cold or poor housing.
Tessa Munt urged David Cameron to support the work of the Somerset Community Foundation, a charity that encourages those who do not need their cold weather payments to give their payment to those who are less fortunate.
Speaking in the House of Commons during the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions, she asked: “Is the Prime Minister aware that more than 420 people died in Somerset last winter from causes related to cold and poor living conditions?”
“Will he join me in supporting a local charity, the Somerset Community Foundation, which has a surviving winter appeal whereby all those who can forgo all or part of their winter fuel payment can donate the money for redistribution to those for whom it is not nearly enough?”
The Prime Minister responded: “I will certainly join the Honourable Lady in congratulating the charity on the work it does. It sounds absolutely essential.”
“I know that she will welcome, as I did, the decision by the Chancellor in the spending statement that cold weather payments would be put on a higher level permanently, not just before an election.”
Watch the BBC’s online video of Prime Minister’s Questions below:
