Fulton MacGregor wrote to the Prime Minister on September 10 asking about Labour’s decision to bin winter heating support payments for all but the poorest pensioners.
The Coatbridge MSP revealed an answer 119 days later – on January 7, after the SNP Government announced their plans to mitigate the cut.
His answer came the same week as temperatures dropped as low as -13.3C in the Highlands.
MacGregor told The National the extent of the UK Government’s delay “shows the contempt they hold for the people of Scotland”.
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He added: “As temperatures drop well below freezing across Scotland Labour’s decision to cut the winter fuel allowance has left many pensioners too frightened to turn on their heating – that is the reality of this decision made in Westminster.
“In the 119 days it took them to issue this weak response the SNP Government have stepped in to fix this mistake by ensuring that from next winter pensioners will have a winter fuel support payments once again.”
The Scottish Government in November announced plans to introduce a limited replacement for the universal payment, to come in next winter.
In her response to MacGregor, Pensions Minister Emma Reynolds apologised for the delay.
She added: “In face of the substantial pressures faced by the public finances this year and next, the Government has had to make hard choices, including targeting the Winter Fuel Payment, to bring the public finances back under control.
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“This decision means that the Winter Fuel Payment will be targeted to low-income pensioners who need it.”
Reynolds noted that the UK Government was still providing allowances worth either £200 or £300 for the poorest pensioners, with older people getting the higher sum.
She also noted the department’s efforts to get more people to sign up for pension credit, which makes people eligible for the benefit and pointed to other pensioner support schemes the Government continued to fund.
The DWP was approached for further comment.