Height of nonsense

Bishopton decides EK cash

Pensioners in East Kilbride are being frozen out when it comes to cold weather payments – that’s because it is based on readings taken from over 20 miles away.

The town’s MSP Linda Fabiani is calling for an end to the cold shoulder for older residents after years of campaigns at Westminster received an icy reception.

Currently, East Kilbride’s eligibility is determined by the temperature measured at the weather station in Bishopton, Renfrewshire.

According to the Met Office, Bishopton has an altitude of 59 metres above mean sea level compared to East Kilbride, which has an altitude of 184m above mean sea level.

So, even though East Kilbride experiences colder weather for longer due to being situated higher up than Bishopton, this is not accounted for by the weather station, meaning East Kilbride loses out.

Ms Fabiani is now calling for the Scottish Government to reconsider how cold weather payments for pensioners in receipt of pension credits are calculated.

The opportunity for this change would come when the responsibility for this benefit is passed to the Scottish Parliament.

Ms Fabiani raised the issue with the social security minister in Parliament.

She said: “Those on pension credit in East Kilbride are at a disadvantage due to their cold weather payments being measured by a Met Office station located in an area that does not experience the same winter weather as my constituency.

“I think it is highly inappropriate that Bishopton is responsible for determining the temperature in towns like East Kilbride which is over 20 miles away and can experience vastly different weather conditions.

“Cold weather payments are currently a reserved matter, but as the Scottish Government prepares to take responsibility for this benefit, I have urged the government to consider establishing a weather station in East Kilbride or, at the very least, in a nearby town with a similar altitude to ensure my constituents receive what they are owed.”

A spokeswoman for the Department of Work and Pensions said: “The UK Government’s cold weather payment scheme links postcodes to weather stations that reflect the most similar climate in terms of mean winter temperature.

“They may not necessarily be the closest. Each year we review the scheme and seek expert advice from the Met Office, taking in to account representations from MPs and the public.

“We use Bishopton weather station for East Kilbride post codes, as this has been recommended by the Met Office to be the most suitable available in the region.”

Highly inappropriate that Bishopton is responsible.