New Energy Package to Help Fuel Poor

Strathaven based MSP, Linda Fabiani, has welcomed the announcement from the Scottish Government for a new Energy Assistance Package that will help one million Scots designated as fuel poor.

The package which will be funded by £55.8 million a year – a 20% increase on existing fuel poverty budgets – aims to help increase incomes for the fuel poor, reduce their fuel bills and improve the energy efficiency of homes.

Ms Fabiani said:

“At a time when people in the town are having to finance substantial increases in their fuel bills it is very welcome news that the SNP Government is acting to help households cope with these increased costs.

“The 20percent increase in the fuel poverty budget should enable the Scottish Government via the Energy Assistance Package to give greater support to those households that are deemed to be fuel poor and adds to the extra £10 million of funding for the free central heating programme this year and its expansion from next year to include young families with a child under 5 or a disabled child under 16 who will now get direct support with energy efficiency measures such as central heating.

“The announcement also sees the cap on the grant for help through the Central Heating Programme increase from £3500 to £4000 and the upper cap from the Central Heating Scheme going up from £1000 to £6500.

“There are families throughout East Kilbride that will use the benefits of the improved schemes to make their homes healthier, warmer places to live and the SNP is committed to aiding those families in doing so.”