Christmas cracker for Hull

Hull North MP Diana Johnson today welcomed a new cash boost for 62,000 Hull people, following the coldest start to winter in 30 years.

As part of the Labour Government's financial help for the most vulnerable, ministers have formally ordered a special one-off payment of £60 to pensioners, carers, disabled people and those in receipt of bereavement benefits.

This totals around 15 million people across the country.

Diana Johnson MP said: "This is a Christmas cracker for everyone in Hull. The Government is helping our most vulnerable people through the coldest months and tough economic times.

"The Christmas bonus will be a real winter warmer for all who get it. This help comes in addition to the extra £4 billion which will be spent on pensioners next year, announced by the Chancellor in the pre-Budget report.

"This means the biggest increase in the State Pension since 2001, bringing it from £90 to £95 a week, and the biggest increase in Pension Credit since it was introduced, so that no pensioner need live on less than £130 a week from April 2009."

James Purnell, Labour's Secretary of State for Work and Pensions said: "We know that older people in Hull are facing tough times. That's why we are making this real help available. I am pleased to confirm that this year we will spend approximately £900 million on the additional Christmas bonus payments.

"The Tories say we should do nothing to help people in Hull, but we've ignored them and are putting an extra £60 in every pensioner's pocket, alongside their increased Winter Fuel Payments."

Labour's Pensions Minister Rosie Winterton MP said: "This is real help going to around 62,000 people in Hull, including 44,000 Hull pensioners and 1,400 Hull kids.

"I hope that this cash, alongside extra Winter Fuel Payments and Cold Weather Payments, means that nobody will need worry about turning up the heat this winter. Thanks to a Labour Government, everybody should have real help with their bills."