More help needed for fuel poor

The conference aims to cut the numbers living in fuel poverty

A charity has warned that understanding the barriers to eradicating fuel poverty is vital if the government's pledge to end it by 2016 is to be met.

Energy Action Scotland said 800,000 - almost one in three - Scots households, were struggling to pay energy bills.

The call comes as Housing and Communities Minister Alex Neil said households with the lowest energy efficiency ratings would receive help.

Fuel poverty is when heating and cooking costs over over 10% of income.

Mr Neil said that in future, help with insulation and heating system upgrades would be extended from those with properties with F and G-rated energy performance to properties with an E rating.

The system rates properties from A-G on their energy efficiency, with an A rating the most efficient.

After six months of operation there is the opportunity to use lessons learned to refine the scheme to ensure it delivers the results that we, and the government, hoped Graham Blount Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum

He also said the government's scheme to provide cavity wall and loft insulation for those in social housing would receive an extra £2.5m.

The minister said proposals for new regulations to expand the eligibility criteria would go before parliament in the next few weeks.

He said: "Too many families are struggling with unaffordable fuel prices that can mean a choice between cooking the dinner and keeping the house warm.

"That's why we are extending the eligibility criteria for the Energy Assistance Package to deliver real help to families feeling the pinch of unrelenting fuel price hikes."

The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum said that there were concerns that the Scottish government's fuel poverty alleviation programme, the £60m Energy Assistance Package (EAP), had not delivered the results hoped for by campaigners.

'More investment'

They want a fast-track system for eligible households to receive government assistance.

The group said schemes to alleviate the burden of fuel costs should also be offered to those receiving more than just the family element of Child Tax Credits.

Both the Scottish and UK governments have pledged to eliminate fuel poverty by 2016.

Graham Blount, chair of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum said: "Inevitably, no new system will be perfectly designed from the start.

"After six months of operation there is the opportunity to use lessons learned to refine the scheme to ensure it delivers the results that we, and the government, hoped.

"The 2016 commitment was a brave one. We need to keep working together - and that includes both the Scottish and UK Governments - and crucially we need more investment, to get there and save more Scots from more years of fuel poverty."

Delegates are due to attend a major three-day conference on ending fuel poverty at the Dunblane Hydro Hotel in Perthshire later.

Energy Action Scotland is hosting the event which aims to examine what barriers need to be removed to make sure all homes are affordable to heat.

The conference is being held at the Dunblane Hydro Hotel from Wednesday, 4 November to Friday 6 November.