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Government to unveil fuel poverty action plan Extra £10m to be spent on tackling fuel poverty
(about 13 hours later)
Scottish Housing Minister Kevin Stewart is set to outline his plans to tackle fuel poverty. An extra £10m is to be spent on tackling fuel poverty after the Scottish government failed to meet its pledge to eradicate the problem.
The Scottish government was recently criticised on the issue after research indicated fuel poverty levels have more than doubled since 2003. Ministers were recently criticised after research indicated fuel poverty levels had more than doubled since 2003.
The government intended to eradicate the problem by 2016. The government intended to get rid of fuel poverty by 2016.
Researchers found fuel poverty, currently defined as households spending 10% of income on heating, affected about 35% of Scottish homes. Councils and housing associations will receive a share of £9m to make it easier for tenants to heat their homes.
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said a further £1m was being made available to provide interest-free loans to help people make their home more energy efficient.
Work is also being carried out to develop Scotland's Energy Efficiency Programme (Seep), with 11 pilot projects being set up to test different ways of saving energy.
'Vulnerable households'
Researchers recently found fuel poverty, currently defined as households spending 10% of income on heating, affected about 35% of Scottish homes.
The level has remained steady since 2009.The level has remained steady since 2009.
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart will open Energy Action Scotland's Fuel Poverty Matters national conference in Clydebank on Thursday. Mr Stewart said: "Everyone deserves a safe and warm place to call home. And that is why tackling fuel poverty is a priority, for me and for this government.
He is expected to outline the Scottish government's plans to improve the energy efficiency of homes and also how new powers devolved to Holyrood will enable schemes to help mitigate the cost of energy. "I'm delighted that this week a further £9m is going out to councils and social housing associations to ensure some of Scotland's most vulnerable households are able to heat their homes. This means we are spending £113m this year alone tackling fuel poverty directly.
Warm and dry "I am also pleased to be announcing a further £1m investment in our interest-free loan scheme which will increase the number of people able to access help to install energy efficiency measures."
He said: "Everyone should be able to heat their home and keep themselves and their families warm, therefore tackling and eradicating fuel poverty is vital and we must make sure action we are taking is making a difference to those that need it most. He added: "Over the next four years we are making half a billion pounds available to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency. This means, by the end of 2021, we will have committed more than £1bn to making our homes and buildings warmer and cheaper to heat."
"Since 2008, over one million energy efficiency measures have been installed in almost one million households across Scotland which has helped make homes warmer and easier to heat. Definition 'too broad'
"We will build on this by investing half a billion pounds over the next four years to continue tackling fuel poverty and improving energy efficiency." The Scottish government plans to commission an independent academic review to consider narrowing the definition of fuel poverty and setting a new target, following a report by the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group which found the existing definition was "too broad".
"It is absolutely vital we make sure the action we are taking makes a difference to those who need it most," Mr Stewart said.
He made the announcement at the Energy Action Scotland's Fuel Poverty Matters national conference in Clydebank.
Norman Kerr, director of Energy Action Scotland, said: "Our network has a wealth of knowledge and experience about what is happening on the ground in order to turn cold, damp houses into warm, dry homes.Norman Kerr, director of Energy Action Scotland, said: "Our network has a wealth of knowledge and experience about what is happening on the ground in order to turn cold, damp houses into warm, dry homes.
"This conference aims to help support plans for ending the blight of fuel poverty in Scotland.""This conference aims to help support plans for ending the blight of fuel poverty in Scotland."
The Scottish government plans to commission an independent academic review to consider narrowing the definition of fuel poverty and setting a new target, following a report by the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group which found the existing definition was "too broad". Opposition politicians and housing charities have criticised the government's "unacceptable" performance on fuel poverty and called for increased action, while Labour has said the SNP has "failed to get a grip" on the issue.
Opposition politicians and housing charities have criticised the Government's "unacceptable" performance on fuel poverty and called for increased action, while Labour has said the SNP has "failed to get a grip" on the issue.