McMillan Welcomes Central Heating Cash Boost

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP West of Scotland) has today welcomed the announcement from Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Nicola Sturgeon that an extra 10 million will be invested in the Central Heating Programme this year.

The Deputy First Minister also announced the Scottish Government's intention of extending it's fuel poverty programmes to include families on income support with children under the age of five or disabled children under 16.

The extra investment from the SNP Government will allow the programme to help even more of Inverclyde's fuel poor.

Commenting Mr McMillan said;

This is fantastic news! The current scheme has helped so many of local residents and this move will help many more.

In 2006, it was estimated that 8,000 people in Inverclyde suffered from fuel poverty and since then fuel prices have sky-rocketed.

Following on the six point programme announced earlier this week, this does not only underline the SNP Government's commitment to tackling fuel poverty but also shows that the SNP are the only party on Inverclyde's side.

Notes:

Around 46 million per annum is allocated for fuel poverty programmes over 2008-2011.

Ms Sturgeon made a statement on Fuel Poverty in Parliament on May 22, 2008, and announced prioritisation within the Central Heating Programme to focus on those householders most likely to be fuel poor. From October 27, this prioritisation will be extended to cover the following pensioner households:

* those who have never had a central heating system
* those who have a system which is broken beyond repair and are in receipt of the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit
* those who have a system which is broken beyond repair and are aged 75 or over
* those who have a partial or inefficient system and are in receipt of the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit
* those who have a partial or inefficient system and are aged 80 or over

The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum was established to advise on tackling fuel poverty. Chaired by Rev. Graham Blount it published its recommendations on the reform of fuel poverty policy on October 10, 2008.

The Scottish Government's Central Heating Programme delivered a record 14,371 central heating systems in 2007-08. Scottish Gas delivered 14,203 and local authorities delivered a further 168 systems, in total the highest number ever delivered to private homes by the programme.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/10/17132304