Fuel Poverty Rates Rise

Thousands of Scottish households are on course to fall into fuel poverty.

According to figures, 100, 000 more people struggled to heat their homes and pay their bills last year.

It takes the fuel poverty rate to 940, 000.

The Poverty Alliance says almost 40% of households are now classed as fuel poor.

Housing Minister Margaret Burgess has demanded Westminster do more to cut fuel bills for vulnerable households.

Mrs Burgess has asked the UK Government to urgently increase the £140 a year Warm Homes Discount that helps low income households.

Fuel bills have now risen nearly six times faster than household incomes since 2003.

Mrs Burgess said:

"Fuel prices rose by an inflation-busting seven per cent in 2013, pushing more people into fuel poverty. The fact that this is happening in an energy-rich country is scandalous.

"We have invested over £300 million since 2009 to make fuel poor homes more energy efficient. This year and next, we are spending £94 million to improve energy efficiency. Around one in three Scottish households, over 700,000, have now benefited from measures like new boilers or insulation.

"Today's statistics make clear that without action to improve energy efficiency, which is our responsibility, price increases would have put even more households into fuel poverty in 2013.

"So the Scottish Government is doing what it can, but we don't control prices and don't have any powers over ECO or the Warm Homes Discount.

"Fuel costs have risen six times faster than incomes since 2003, while the UK Government's fiscal policies since June 2010 will leave the poorest 20% of households worse off by the equivalent of £441 per year in 2015-16. We will mitigate against this where possible but we know there are further cuts to come.

"That is why we are calling on the UK Government to increase the Warm Homes Discount and fund that increase centrally. That would give immediate relief to the lowest income households and those on benefits and go some way to lifting people out of fuel poverty this winter."