Fuel Poverty

The recent Scottish Parliament debate to mark Energy Action Scotland’s 30th Anniversary gave me another opportunity to discuss fuel poverty – an important issue that impacts us all in one way or another.

With winter approaching it is worth remembering that while many of us have the resources to turn the heating on without it hurting our household budgets too much, others are not so fortunate. For many in Scotland the simple comforts of home come at a steep cost.

In 2011, almost one third of households in Scotland were found to be fuel poor.

Since then, that number has increased. Today, we estimate that more than one in three Scottish homes are in fuel poverty. According to Energy Action Scotland the main cause of fuel poverty is a combination of poor energy efficiency, low disposable household income and high cost of domestic energy.

Some progress has been made to alleviate the impact of soaring energy prices.

Just a few weeks ago the Scottish Government guaranteed the Aberdeenshire Council area £4.4m to combat fuel poverty. This welcome move is one of the largest allocations under the Scottish Government’s Home Efficiency Programme for Scotland (HEEPS). The money will provide much-needed relief to 2,500 homes. It will bring benefit to the local economy too – as people receive financial support to insulate their homes so local businesses and employers will be boosted as they meet demand for warmer and more energy efficient homes.

Indeed Scottish Government funding commitments for 2014-15 and 2015-16 highlight the firm pledge undertaken to tackle fuel poverty in rural areas and the rest of Scotland. This commitment is in stark contrast to the Westminster Government’s decision this year to end its Warm Front scheme- this cut will mean that no funding will be allocated to alleviate fuel poor households in England.

The Scottish Government remains committed to eradicating fuel poverty.

The best way for this to happen is for Holyrood to have responsibility for energy related matters – and the best way for that to happen, is for people of Scotland to vote ‘Yes’ in the 2014 Referendum. In an independent Scotland an expert committee on energy regulation would look to improve Scotland’s stewardship of electricity and gas to provide fairer and more affordable prices

The problem of fuel poverty highlights just how little the Westminster Government understands and cares for the people of Scotland. Indeed, there is no clearer evidence of this truth than Westminster’s decision not to support SNP MP Mike Weir’s Private Members’ Bill last year.

Mike had sponsored the Winter Fuel Allowance Payments Bill. It would have provided people whose main source of fuel is home fuel oil, liquid petroleum gas or propane gas, with an early payment of the winter fuel allowance. This small change would have enabled low-income families to buy fuel at a significantly lower price. Unfortunately now many families will be forced to buy fuel in the middle of winter when prices are likely to be at their highest because Westminster MPs waved off the bill in their typical high-handed fashion.

The plight of people affected by fuel poverty is absolutely unacceptable in an energy-rich country such as ours. The small procedural change proposed by Mike’s Bill would have made all the difference for so many people –including pensioner households, which account for more than half of those living in fuel poverty in Scotland. A Yes-vote in next year’s 2014 Referendum will be a vote towards helping such people as well as reinforcing Scotland's place as leading light in energy efficiency and conscious consuming. Our resolve to eradicate fuel poverty has never been greater. Together we can make a difference now for the future.