Cold comfort Bill to die

The Government is today expected to kill a Private Member's Bill to make the rules on cold-weather payments more generous by allowing the wind chill factor to be taken into account.

Age Concern, which supports the Bill tabled by the Labour MP Audrey Wise, fears that the Government will attempt to block the measure. Ministers rejected it on the grounds of cost and impracticality. Without the Government's support, the Bill could be killed in the committee stage. Colin Brown