£12.5m drive to tackle Scottish fuel poverty

A £12.5 MILLION scheme to provide free home insulation measures and help tackle fuel poverty has been launched by the Scottish Government.

The Universal Home Insulation Scheme will be administered by local authorities, offering help to 200,000 households across the country.

Infrastructure and capital investment secretary Alex Neil said: “With the onset of winter just round the corner, now more than ever we need to offer support and immediate assistance to those most in need to help them heat their homes and stay energy efficient.

“That is why, through this scheme, we are injecting millions of pounds in our fight to help stamp out fuel poverty. Councils across Scotland who successfully bid for the cash will administer the scheme.”

Trisha McAuley, depute director of Consumer Focus Scotland, said it “welcomes the announcement” of the scheme. She added: “The high take-up of insulation measures last year showed how effective the scheme is, both in terms of tackling fuel poverty and also of reducing carbon emissions.”

The scheme was welcomed by Labour, but it warned of cuts to the amount being spent on tackling fuel poverty. According to Labour, the Scottish Government will spend £48m on tackling fuel poverty in 2011-12, down from £70.9m in 2010-11.