Fuel Poverty News - SNP takes action on fuel poverty

Fuel Poverty News	SNP takes action on fuel poverty - 27 Feb 2009
Back to News Home	The SNP Government today announced new steps to tackle fuel poverty - especially to benefit young families. Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil today launched the £60 million ‘Energy Assistance Package’ which will be available from April. The scheme will include benefit and tax credit and tariff checks to ensure that Glasgow’s residents are receiving the correct income and are paying the correct bill, as well as providing central heating and insulation. Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said: "One quarter of Scottish households are now classed as fuel poor. In a modern Scotland that sobering statistic casts a shadow over the whole country. "The most vulnerable members of society will be targeted - pensioners and for the first time, low income families. I want to see incomes boosted, fuel bills reduced and energy efficiency improved in homes. "All this is underpinned by a record 60 million pounds from the Scottish Government, and will lever in additional CERT funding from the energy companies worth up to 100 million pounds. "The rest of the UK is playing follow the leader as we prepare to introduce the Energy Assistance Package, which will help meet fuel poverty and our wider poverty, climate change and energy objectives." SNP MSP for Glasgow Bob Doris welcomed the scheme saying; "This is a very welcome announcement from the Scottish Government and I am pleased they are continuing to fight the problem of fuel poverty by acting on the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum’s report so quickly. This will go along way to helping the residents of Glasgow. "Fuel Poverty is a serious problem not only in our city but across the whole of Scotland with one in four households now class as fuel poor. During these times of economic uncertainty and job losses, it is good to see a Government acting and attempting to boost incomes, lower fuel bills and improve energy efficiency - London Labour should follow suit."
Back to News Home	Source: The SNP