MSP hits out at plan to cut fuel payments

EDINBURGH MSP Sarah Boyack has hit out at UK Government plans to cut winter fuel allowances after a survey showed almost one in four city residents fear they will not be able to afford to heat their homes.

She has tabled a motion in the Scottish Parliament, warning that the move to raise the qualifying age for the allowance from 60 to 66 could increase fuel poverty.

And she called for the Scottish Government to review the effectiveness of energy efficiency programmes and encourage councils in promoting the use of one-off council tax discounts to drive greater uptake of efficiency measures across Scotland.