SNP Calls for Action From UK Government on Fuel Poverty

Strathaven based MSP Linda Fabiani is supporting a Scottish Government call for the suspension of VAT on fuel, extra money for pensioner households and a cut in the rate of VAT on energy efficiency works such as home insulation.

Speaking after the latest statistics on excess winter deaths were released, which saw a 20 percent reduction in such deaths last winter, Ms Fabiani said:

“Households are already feeling the pinch from increased heating bills and need some support at this time to ease the burden.

“The latest statistics on winter deaths still make for unhappy reading and we should be doing what we can to relieve both household budgets and take care of our most vulnerable.

”The Scottish Government has in the past year installed a record number of central heating systems for our retired population and we are keen to do so again.

“Just recently we announced an extra £10 million investment in the free central heating programme and funded the Energy Saving Scotland Advice Centre to give advice to all Scots residents on ways they can economise through energy efficiency.

“We are also expanding the central heating scheme from next year to include young families who may be at risk of fuel poverty.

“We are investing £46 million per year up to 2011 in this programme and while we are doing this it is up to the UK Government to act to bring energy prices down.

“It is no good Mr Brown sitting on his hands on this issue; if he is prepared to bale out the banks to the tune of billions of pounds then he should equally be prepared to help out the ordinary people of this country that are faced with steep increases in their fuel bills.

“He should suspend VAT on fuel over the cold winter months, give an extra £100 to each pensioner household to help pay their fuel bills and cut the rate of VAT on energy efficiency works such as home insulation.

“These measures would demonstrate that Mr Brown is interested in helping more than just financial institutions that put themselves in bother, it is his opportunity to show that the normal working family is worth his consideration too.