Cold weather payments for poorest become permanent

Temporary, emergency payments to help thousands of Britain's poorest pensioners and families pay for heating during cold snaps are to become permanent, chancellor George Osborne announced today . The "cold weather payments", handed to millions of people on low incomes when temperatures sink below zero for a week or more between 1 November and 31 March, have been paid at a rate of £25 over the past two years in the face of rising fuel bills. This is different from winter fuel payments for over-60s, which are automatically paid every year. There had been fears the payments could now sink to their traditional level of £8.50, even though fuel prices have not fallen since last year. During today's long-awaited spending review, Osborne said to huge cheers: "Higher cold weather payments should be for life, not just for elections." The announcement coincides with the first signs of a cold snap in the UK overnight, with thick frost and even snow in Scotland and temperatures plummeting across the country. On the high street, car accessories retailer Halford has seen sales of antifreeze and other winter treatments rise by a quarter compared with October last year. The chain has ordered in enough stock to meet a rise in demand of 250%.