FUEL POVERTY: HARVIE URGES FASTER PACE
Patrick Harvie MSP, Energy spokesperson for the Scottish Greens, today urged Scottish ministers to pick up the pace on tackling fuel poverty as new figures show 845,000 households can't afford to stay warm.
This represents 34.9 per cent of all households, little change on the previous year's figure of 35.8.
Analysis earlier this year by the Scottish Greens showed that if the Scottish Government was to keep spending on energy efficiency at its current rate, it would take 28 years to help all homes in fuel poverty.
Today's figures also show almost half of all houses failed basic quality standards, while a survey of the public shows a quarter of households with children say their heating either never or only sometimes keeps them warm enough.
Patrick Harvie, Energy spokesperson for the Scottish Greens and MSP for Glasgow, said:
"These figures show the scale of the challenge the Scottish Government faces and underlines the need to pick up the pace. Ministers have agreed with Green calls for energy efficient homes to become a National Infrastructure Priority, but that must come with a serious increase in funding.
"It's a national scandal that so many people are unable to heat their homes in energy-rich Scotland. With a transformation in our approach we can improve public health, create quality construction jobs and get our climate targets back on track. This week's Scottish Government draft budget must deliver."