CAMPAIGNERS for the elderly are appealing to East Lancashire MPs for their help in changing the law on cold weather payments.

Age Concern is supporting a private members bill being introduced to Parliament by Preston MP Audrey Wise in a bid to have wind chill taken into account when the extra cash payments are made.

And they are appealing for as many MPs as possible to attend the bill's second reading on Friday January 17 and vote in favour of the changes.

Cold weather payments of £8.50 are currently made to groups on income support, including pensioners, if the temperature has been or is forecast to be 0 C or below for seven days.

But campaigners say a wind of 9mph can make a temperature of 5.5C feel like -0.1C, making it more expensive to heat homes and harder for pensioners to go outside.

The bill is being heard at a time when northern MPs traditionally set off for a weekend in their constituencies.

Age Concern Lancashire is appealing for local MPs to stay behind and offer their support to ensure the bill progresses and reaches the statute book. The organisation's Blackburn office has written to Blackburn MP and Shadow Home Secretary Jack Straw and Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson asking for their help.

The letter pointed out: "Introducing the wind chill factor into the measurement of eligibility for cold weather payments could mean more payments are made to pensioners on income support each winter, particularly in the north, where the wind is harsher.

"This is an issue which is crucial to so many local older people and it deserves support."

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson said: "I am supporting the bill and I will be there on January 17."

Blackburn MP Jack Straw was unavailable to comment.

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