(Source: Evening News; Edinburgh (UK)) PENSIONERS in West Lothian are to receive a Christmas bonus this year after the council announced it is to spend GBP 500,000 to double winter payments. West Lothian Council give pensioners an annual payment of GBP 10 to help ease the financial burden older people face at Christmas, but this amount will be doubled this year.
The council is the only one in Scotland to still make this annual payment and will this year be spending in excess of GBP 500,000 to provide for more than 25,000 local pensioners. Councillor John Cochrane said: “Our pensioners are particularly vulnerable this year with their rocketing fuel bills causing genuine concerns about increased risks of hypothermia.
“By doubling the council’s winter payment to pensioners to GBP 20 I believe we are doing our best as a council to help ease the burden.” (c) 2008 Evening News; Edinburgh (UK). Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.