McMillan Challenges Labour to explain vote against boiler scrappage scheme

Stuart McMillan MSP, (SNP) has today (Thursday) challenged Labour MSP David Whitton to explain why he voted against the Scottish Government’s proposal to implement a central heating boiler scrappage scheme last night after backing calls for such a scheme on his website and calling on the Government to introduce just such a scheme.

Mr McMillan said;

"Only recently Mr Whitton was calling on the Scottish Government to introduce a central heating boiler scrappage scheme to match the scheme which has been rolled out in England.

"With one of the coldest winters in Scotland for decades this is good news for people in East Dunbartonshire. However, Labour has turned its back on this scheme by voting against the budget.

"Considering how Mr Whitton was previously calling for the introduction of a boiler scrappage scheme this backtrack is appalling hypocrisy on his behalf.

"The Scottish Government are committing in full the £2 million Barnett consequentials they received, as a result of UK Government expenditure on its boiler scrappage scheme, to support the Scottish Energy Efficiency Action Plan.

"This will bring together existing schemes to replace inefficient boilers with broader energy efficiency measures.

"Faced with voting for the scheme, they called for, or voting against the SNP Scottish Government they put party politics before the welfare of those people facing fuel poverty."