[Margaret Pilkington]

On the subject of the Winter Fuel payment, I was in the post office on the run up to Christmas last year. Two pensioners were behind me talking about the Winter Fuel payment.
They were not using it to pay for their heating bills, the conversation I overheard told me that this money was going to be used for Christmas presents to grand children and booze for the Christmas festivities.
Now I know that this was only two pensioners I heard talking, but if the money is meant to pay the Winter bills why doesn't the government remove VAT from fuel bills so that the whole population benefits?For those pensioners still in need, the money could be paid as vouchers or directly to the Fuel company to reduce the Winter bill. Or is that solution too simple ?