NI Conservatives’ spokesman, Brian McBride, has “set the record straight” about universal benefits for older people, after Age Sector Platform launched a campaign highlighting free bus passes, prescriptions, TV licences and the winter fuel payment.
“Listening to this debate on the media, it’s clear that there is a bit of confusion around this issue”, Brian explained. “First of all, the government has no plans currently to remove universal benefits for older people. On the contrary, David Cameron and George Osborne have withstood heavy criticism to protect allowances like free TV licences and the winter fuel payment.”
“Secondly, prescriptions and bus passes are devolved matters, which are the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Assembly. If these universal benefits are under threat, it is down to MLAs at Stormont, rather than the government at Westminster. The truth is that the Conservative led government has done a huge amount to give older people the best possible deal, by protecting benefits and raising the state pension at a significant rate. David Cameron has delivered for older people, at a difficult economic time, and the government’s record on these issues is second to none.”