RIBBLE Valley MP Nigel Evans has slammed Labour opponents for blocking moves to change the way cold weather payments are calculated.

Measures introduced by Mr Evans would have taken the wind chill factor into account when determining the payments.

Cold weather payments are made to pensioners who struggle to pay heating bills when the temperature drops below a certain level.

Mr Evans said the new measure would have allowed less well-off pensioners in the coldest parts of the country to claim the special pay-out earlier when cold winds made the temperature worse.

But the new legislation was shot down in flames by some Labour MPs who blocked the bill from being considered in the House of Commons.

Mr Evans said: "The whole measure would only have cost £8 million which is chicken feed compared to the whole Social Security budget.

"It would have ensured a long term solution for poor pensioners not being able to switch on their fires during biting cold spells made all the colder by gusting winds.

"They use the wind chill calculation in other countries and this blocking move will come as a severe blow to Britain's pensioners."

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