Warm applause for centre

HOUSING and communities minister Alex Neil called in to an Edinburgh advice centre to thank staff and promote the help on hand from the government's heating helpline.

New figures show the recent big freeze sparked a huge rise in calls to the government's energy assistance hotline, with almost 7,000 people seeking help.

On his visit to the centre, Mr Neil said: "These figures show the Scottish Government's 60 million Energy Assistance Package is doing exactly what it should be doing."