Free heating in the pipeline

Many older people have been living with poor heating

The Scottish Executive's plans to install free central heating systems in the homes of pensioners and public tenants are to be announced on Friday.

Private firms across Europe have been invited to bid for the contract to carry out part of the project, which is expected to benefit around 140,000 households across the country.

The executive will ask local authorities to confirm how many people in their areas qualify to have central heating systems, worth £2,500, in their homes.

The £350m central heating programme is due to start in April and will take five years to complete.

Jackie Baillie: "Heating for those in need"

Under the scheme, a full central heating system will be installed in the homes of every pensioner and local authority or housing association tenant who does not already have one.

Those benefiting will get loft, tank and pipe insulation, cavity wall insulation and draught-proofing where appropriate.

Social Justice Minister Jackie Baillie said: "The aim of this initiative is to provide warm, dry homes to those most in need.

"We have made the scheme as simple as possible to ensure that people living in cold, damp homes is a thing of the past."

Lower bills

The householders will also receive a carbon monoxide detector, a smoke detector and a cold alarm as well as advice on how to get the best use out of their new heating system.

Around 40,000 owner-occupiers and private tenants over the age of 60 will qualify for the new scheme, as will 85,000 council tenants and 16,000 housing association tenants.

Officials say the scheme will save the elderly an average of £550 a year on heating bills.

Householders who are either aged over 75, elderly people living alone, disabled or suffering from a long-term illness have been identified as a priority for central heating installation.

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said: "While we don't expect people to halve their fuel bills as a result of the new heating systems, they will certainly have lower bills and live in warmer houses."

Officials say the scheme will be rigorously monitored and annual updates of its progress will be published.