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Scotland: Extra fuel poverty funding

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The Scottish Government is to invest an additional £20 million to cut fuel poverty and improve the energy efficiency of Scotland’s housing, Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil has confirmed.

£6 million is earmarked for home energy efficiency programmes that will support measures such as solid wall, cavity or loft insulation.

£14 million will be invested in low cost home energy efficiency loans available to households in the private sector to supplement existing grant schemes to help install energy efficiency measures.

This additional funding will take the Scottish Government’s investment to tackle fuel poverty and boost energy efficiency over the three years 2013/14 to 2015/16 to around £300 million.

Details of the loan schemes will be announced in due course.

Comment from Scotland's Social Justice Secretary

Mr Neil said: “This Government is determined to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency head on, as this additional £20 million investment for energy efficiency measures demonstrates.

“Fuel costs have risen six times faster than incomes since 2003. In 2013, fuel prices rose by seven per cent, pushing more people into fuel poverty. The fact that this is happening in an energy-rich country is outrageous.

“Given the recent reductions in energy costs, all energy providers must implement price cuts now and not wait until the Spring.

“This additional funding means we have allocated over half a billion pounds since 2009 to make Scotland’s homes more energy efficient.

“Over 700,000 households have benefited from measures like new boilers or insulation targeted in particular at those in or at risk of fuel poverty.”

Source: Scottish Government press release: £20 million fund to keep homes warm (no longer available online)

Find out more about the Turn2us 'Cut out the Cold' campaign

Turn2us is highlighting the problems families experience because of rising energy costs through our 'Cut out the Cold' fuel poverty campaign

Families on low incomes often have to choose between energy bills they struggle to afford or leaving their heating off and their homes cold. This is having a big impact on children, putting their health at risk and affecting their progress at school.

There is a range of help available which we are highlighting as part of the campaign.

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Date of publication: 6 February 2015