Labour Assembly Government Should Support Senior Citizens, Plaid Cymru, Wales

Main Category: Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 03 Feb 2005 - 21:00 PDT


Dai Lloyd, AM for South Wales West, today challenged the Minister for Health and Social Services to follow the lead set in Scotland in supporting older people by allowing all older people to have central heating in their homes. He said:

"Last year 1,500 older people died of a cold related illness, which was an increase of 160 deaths than the previous year. It is unacceptable that in the 21st century so many older people have died because of a cold-related illness.

Scotland has come up with a pioneering programme that allows older people to have central heating installed in their homes regardless of their income. In Wales housing benefits including Home Energy Efficiency Scheme are means tested and many older people have difficulty in going through the bureaucratic application process.

"The cold weather is of major concern to older people and this Labour Government is not doing enough to ensure to support older people to live in an adequate environment."

Am ragor o wybodaeth cysylltwch a: For more information please contact:
Ioan Bellin 02920 898401, 07815 741664.
Plaid Cymru - The Party of Wales Media release

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