One in five children in Scotland left in the cold

A GOVERNMENT scheme to help with energy bills is “underfunded by millions” and only helps a fraction of families at risk of fuel poverty, a charity has warned.

Save The Children said the UK government’s Warm Homes Discount scheme currently reached just 3 per cent of families at risk of fuel poverty.

The charity claims that energy companies have not committed enough funds to cover the 64,000 families it said should be eligible for the £120 rebate on fuel bills.

The “shortfall” means that only around 2,000 families would receive it, according to the charity.

Douglas Hamilton, Save the Children’s head in Scotland, said: “It’s unacceptable that so many of Scotland’s poorest families who need help heating their homes this winter will get nothing because energy companies have not put up nearly enough money.

“The scheme needs millions more or the cost will be counted in children’s futures.

“Without this help the choice for parents is stark: cut back on food, get into debt, or risk their children’s health because they can’t afford to keep them warm.

“We would encourage all parents who think they may be eligible to urgently contact their energy companies to make a claim.”

Save the Children said one in five, 179,000 children, were living in fuel poverty in Scotland., enough to fill Hampden Park three times over.

The charity said the number of fuel poor households with children rose by 40 per cent in the last year and is calling for the “big six” on energy companies to ensure all eligible families receive the Warm Home Discount.