CAMPAIGNERS slammed the prospect today that fuel payments, even if restored, may not arrive in time for the coming winter.

Speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Sir Keir suggested Labour will revise its eligibility criteria to allow “more pensioners” to receive the payments, which were previously available to anyone of state pension age.

Shortly after taking power last July, Labour announced that only those on pension credit and other means-tested benefits would qualify.

The move was justified by a supposed £22 billion shortfall in public finances.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner indicated today that details on when the payments could be restored could come to light in the next weeks.

Ms Rayner told Sky News: “I think that we’ve got the upcoming Spending Review and I’m sure that the Chancellor will set it out when we’ve got the opportunity. At the first opportunity she will set out what we’ll be able to do.”

Asked if this means details on the winter fuel payment will be announced at the review on June 11, Ms Rayner said: “I don’t know, but I hope so.”

But the Sunday Times reported that civil servants have warned it would be “impossible” to introduce reforms in time for winter due to ageing computer systems.

End Fuel Poverty Coalition co-ordinator Simon Francis said: “It’s shocking that any restoration of these vital payments are held up due to an IT issue.

“The machinery of government was quick enough to steal the payments away, they should be equally quick at restoring them.”

He also warned that “short-term relief must not be used as an excuse for long-term neglect."

“The Warm Homes Plan offers a long-term fix: lower bills, warmer homes, and greater energy security. But this essential plan is now under threat," Mr Francis said.

“If ministers walk away from delivering it in full, they are effectively condemning households to years more of hardship.”

The End Fuel Poverty Coalition estimates there are 3.2 million pensioner households facing unaffordable energy costs. Around 964,000 of these are in deep fuel poverty, spending more than 20 per cent of their income on energy.