Below is 'Copy & paste' of correspondence I have had with my UK area MP in the last 12 months,(Not laid out in correct order,sorry.)
Winter Fuel (non Payment) in Cyprus
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SHELBROOKE, Alec 06/01/2016
Dear Sir,
Thank you for your recent email.
As you are aware, reforms to the Winter Fuel Allowance mean that payments are made to British taxpayers to assist with energy payments in the colder months. As such the reforms put in place an eligibility criteria to ensure payments were made to those living in the UK or in EEA countries where the average temperature in winter is lower than the warmest region of the UK.
A quick check of weather history on Wunderground.com highlights, for example, that the lowest temperature on Christmas Day 2015 at the flowing locations was as follows:
Paphos Airport – 8 degrees
Larnaca Airport – 7 degrees
Leeds & Bradford Airport – 2 degrees
Obviously, the policy refers to an average over the winter months so it is expected that when final averages are calculated for this winter the average in Cyprus will remain higher than that in the United Kingdom.
Yours sincerely,
Alec
Alec Shelbrooke MP
Conservative Member of Parliament for Elmet & Rothwell
http://www.benzo.org.uk/amisc/images/hocportcullis.jpg
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
Office 01937 589 002
Email [email protected]
Website http://www.alecshelbrooke.co.uk
Twitter: @AlecShelbrooke
Facebook: alecshelbrookemp
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From: Malcolm
Sent: 01 January 2016 19:39
To: SHELBROOKE, Alec
Subject: Winter Fuel (non Payment) in Cyprus
Dear Sir,
It is almost 12 months since I sent you an e-mail (see below) regarding the non Payment of Winter fuel allowance for UK pensioners in Cyprus, below is a copy and paste from today's (1st January 2016) local english press here in Cyprus. This disproves that Cyprus is tropical !!!!
TOPUPDATED
Cyprus starts New Year white and cold
incyprusincyprus — 01/01/2016
Phil
Many parts of Cyprus were covered in white on New Year’s Day, a day with unusually low temperatures making Friday the coldest day of the week.
Plenty of snow accumulated up on the mountains but also in rural areas outside Nicosia.
Light snow found its way into the capital and other towns, painting a perfect picture for the season. People have been sharing photos taken from their windows on social media, capturing on camera the ever-so short-lived snowflakes.
Here are thee pictures submitted to Philenews by Frixos-Dalitis in Archangelos, Koulla-Kountouri in Astromeritis, and Roula Demetriou in Tmbria.
Frixos-Dalitis---Arhaggelos Koulla-Kountouri---Adtromeritis Roula-Demetriou--Tembria
But it was no picnic for those who braved the weather, including people with their pets, as there was a wind chill in effect that felt a lot colder when walking outside.
Temperatures reached 7 degrees inland, 10 degrees in the coastal areas, and -5 degrees in the mountains.
New Year Day’s overnight temperatures will drop down to 3 degrees inland, 5 degrees in the coastal areas, and -7 degrees in the mountains.
All roads leading to Troodos Mountain were closed as well as secondary roads in high elevation that were open only to vehicles with four-wheel drive or anti-skid crawlers.
In the evening, there is chance of isolated showers. Drivers should slow down when they see a paddle of water, even while driving in the city, because hydroplaning is possible even at relatively low speeds.
Warnings of sleet forming in many areas have not been lifted and could remain in effect throughout the weekend.
The latest information is available on the police website, through social media, and on Smartphone apps.
Dear Madam. Please convey the following message immediately to the Committee.
To members of the Select Committee for Work & Pensions
It is urged that a ‘prayer’ an EDM as follows is laid before parliament before the 24th January (40 days after the SI was laid)
Early Day Motion (prayer)
Winter Fuel Payment to British Citizens in EU countries.
The Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 3270 (laid before PARLIAMENT on the 15th December 2014 restricting payment to pensioners residing in countries incorrectly called by the DWP ‘hot’ of the EU should be annulled. After the General Election, the matter may then be appropriately reconsidered by the new Parliament.
1. It discriminates against certain groups of British Citizen pensioners residing in certain States of the EU, some of whom are already in financial difficulties.
2. This SI almost certainly contravenes the UK treaty agreement with the EU on social security co-ordination.
Kind Regards,
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malcolm shaw 01/01/2016 Unflag this message
To: SHELBROOKE, Alec Cc: Malcolm Shaw
Dear Sir,
It is almost 12 months since I sent you an e-mail (see below) regarding the non Payment of Winter fuel allowance for UK pensioners in Cyprus, below is a copy and paste from today's (1st January 2016) local english press here in Cyprus. This disproves that Cyprus is tropical !!!!
TOPUPDATED
Cyprus starts New Year white and cold
incyprus incyprus — 01/01/2016
Many parts of Cyprus were covered in white on New Year’s Day, a day with unusually low temperatures making Friday the coldest day of the week.
Plenty of snow accumulated up on the mountains but also in rural areas outside Nicosia.
Light snow found its way into the capital and other towns, painting a perfect picture for the season. People have been sharing photos taken from their windows on social media, capturing on camera the ever-so short-lived snowflakes.
Here are thee pictures submitted to Philenews by Frixos-Dalitis in Archangelos, Koulla-Kountouri in Astromeritis, and Roula Demetriou in Tmbria.
Frixos-Dalitis---Arhaggelos Koulla-Kountouri---Adtromeritis Roula-Demetriou--Tembria
But it was no picnic for those who braved the weather, including people with their pets, as there was a wind chill in effect that felt a lot colder when walking outside.
Temperatures reached 7 degrees inland, 10 degrees in the coastal areas, and -5 degrees in the mountains.
New Year Day’s overnight temperatures will drop down to 3 degrees inland, 5 degrees in the coastal areas, and -7 degrees in the mountains.
All roads leading to Troodos Mountain were closed as well as secondary roads in high elevation that were open only to vehicles with four-wheel drive or anti-skid crawlers.
In the evening, there is chance of isolated showers. Drivers should slow down when they see a paddle of water, even while driving in the city, because hydroplaning is possible even at relatively low speeds.
Warnings of sleet forming in many areas have not been lifted and could remain in effect throughout the weekend.
The latest information is available on the police website, through social media, and on Smartphone apps.
Dear Madam. Please convey the following message immediately to the Committee.
To members of the Select Committee for Work & Pensions
It is urged that a ‘prayer’ an EDM as follows is laid before parliament before the 24th January (40 days after the SI was laid)
Early Day Motion (prayer)
Winter Fuel Payment to British Citizens in EU countries.
The Statutory Instrument 2014 No. 3270 (laid before PARLIAMENT on the 15th December 2014 restricting payment to pensioners residing in countries incorrectly called by the DWP ‘hot’ of the EU should be annulled. After the General Election, the matter may then be appropriately reconsidered by the new Parliament.
1. It discriminates against certain groups of British Citizen pensioners residing in certain States of the EU, some of whom are already in financial difficulties.
2. This SI almost certainly contravenes the UK treaty agreement with the EU on social security co-ordination.
Kind Regards,
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You are spot on with your posting.
there will always be winners and losers, the point being there is hopefully more winners than losers....that is the trouble with universal benefits they are clearly open to abuse...and no I do not agree with the uber rich getting this payment...nor do I agree with those over a certain income getting it either...but to manage this on an individual basis would not be viable....you would probably spend as much administering it !!
