For immediate release:
SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT DRIVE TO END FUEL POVERTY IN SCOTLAND
Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey has given her backing to the Scottish Government’s ‘world-leading’ Fuel Poverty Bill that was passed unanimously by MSPs last week (June 11).
Under the plans, by law, no more than 5% of households in Scotland will be in fuel poverty by 2040 – ensuring families across Rutherglen and Cambuslang who struggle to heat their homes are given the right support.
In South Lanarkshire, 24.9% of households are estimated to be in fuel poverty, which equates to approximately 36,000 homes.
According to research undertaken last year, the UK has the second-worst rate of excess winter deaths in Europe, with more than 3,000 deaths every year being caused by people not being able to afford to heat their homes.
Commenting, Rutherglen MSP Clare Haughey said:
“By the end of 2021, the Scottish Government will have invested over £1 billion to tackle fuel poverty and improve the energy efficiency of Scottish houses.
“Regardless of income or employment status, everyone should be able to heat their homes and keep themselves and their families warm. It is absolutely unacceptable that people are still having to choose between keeping themselves warm and keeping themselves from being hungry.
“The Scottish Government is fully committed to tackling fuel poverty across Scotland, and we are now one of only a handful of European countries to have defined fuel poverty, let alone set a goal to eradicate it.
“The world-leading Fuel Poverty Bill is a massive step in tackling fuel poverty and will help make a real difference to the lives of thousands of people across Rutherglen and Cambuslang.”
ENDS
Notes:
‘3,000 deaths’ statistic can be found in the link below:
Date published: 13th June 2019
Clare Haughey MSP 