Fuel Poverty Continues to Soar
Mark Griffin MSP has hit out at the Scottish Government as figures show a cut in the Fuel Poverty budget. The cut will have a detrimental impact on over 200,000 people in Scotland, many of them pensioners.
Mark said:
"I am deeply angered by the decision of the Scottish Government to cut the fuel poverty budget by £15 million. This equates to a 13% reduction in the fund and will have a detrimental impact on over 200,000 people in Scotland.
"The last Labour-led Government set an ambitious target to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016. The current Scottish Government has been in power for 9 years and have consistently failed to make meaningful steps to address this crisis. This latest decision shows their lack of resolve to take appropriate action, and will likely add pressure to NHS and social care services, whose resources are already stretched.
"I support Scottish Labour's ground-breaking Scottish Warm Homes Act to tackle the problem head on and stop those living in fuel poverty for being forced to choose between having an evening meal and heating their home.
"The Scottish Government must take urgent action to increase investment, and offer resources and advice to those in fuel poverty."