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<p>The Government has committed to keeping the Winter Fuel Payment for the lifetime
of this Parliament. The cost over the last five years is as follows:</p><p> </p><table><tbody><tr><td><p><strong>2010/11</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2011/12</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2012/13</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2013/14</strong></p></td><td><p><strong>2014/15</strong></p></td></tr><tr><td><p>£m
2,759</p></td><td><p>2,149</p></td><td><p>2,144</p></td><td><p>2,140</p></td><td><p>2,117</p></td></tr></tbody></table><p>
</p><p>The Government has not estimated the corresponding tax receipts had the Winter
Fuel Payment been taxable.</p><p> </p><p>There is a total of 11.4 million pensioners
in the UK.</p><p> </p><p>National Statistics, published by HMRC, show that in 2013/14,
there were 6.12 million taxpayers whose main source of income is from pensions, of
which 90 per cent pay the basic rate of tax and 6 per cent pay the higher rate of
tax.</p>
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