One million fuel poor Scots to be thrown lifeline

20 November 2008

The one million fuel poor households in Scotland are to benefit from a new Energy Assistance Package, the government announced yesterday.

Health secretary Nicola Sturgeon claimed that the new package, which is to replace the existing Central Heating and Warm Deal programmes, will tackle all aspects of fuel poverty - not just energy efficiency.

She said: "Fuel poverty is on the increase despite huge investment in programmes across Scotland; rural communities are struggling and not being well served by existing programmes."

The new form of assistance will see the existing government fuel poverty budget increase by 20 per cent to £55.8 million a year and is due to take effect from next April.

According to National Energy Action, fuel poverty typically affects poor or vulnerable households including single-parent families, disabled people or the elderly.

It has defined fuel poverty as having to spend more than ten per cent of a total household income on home heating oil, gas or electric bills to heat a home to a healthy and comfortable standard of 21C.

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