To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to extend to those (a) in receipt of benefits and (b) on low incomes the heating allowance for those on pensions. [77990]

The Winter Fuel Payments scheme provides extra help to around ten million eligible pensioners, in over seven million households towards their heaviest fuel bills. We have no plans to extend the scheme to other groups.We are committed to tackling the problems associated with vulnerable people keeping warm and has already introduced numerous substantial measures to meet this objective.