The call comes in response to a U-turn from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has announced plans to ease cuts to winter fuel payments.

More than 10 million pensioners lost out on the payments, worth up to £300, when the pension top-up became means-tested last year.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions yesterday, Sir Keir said ministers would change the threshold to allow “more pensioners” to qualify again.

Adam Stachura, director of policy at Age Scotland, said: “It is good news that the Prime Minister has finally accepted removing the Winter Fuel Payment in the way he did was the wrong decision. It is regrettable that it has taken him so long and so many who needed it went without this winter.

“While there is very little detail of how it will be reintroduced in other parts of the UK, it is vital that any new money coming to Scotland as a result is used by the Scottish Government to directly increase the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment. It shouldn’t be used just to cover the current budget line or repurposed elsewhere.

“The planned basic rate of £100 next winter just isn’t enough for most Scottish pensioner households as hundreds of thousand live in fuel poverty and struggled to heat their homes without it.

“We urge the First Minister to make a firm commitment to do this and ensure that more older people are better supported through our tough winters and the cost of living crisis.”