MSPs welcome funding boost for fuel poor in region

Local MSPs Emma Harper and Joan McAlpine have welcomed the news that families across Dumfries and Galloway are set to benefit from £237,500 of additional Scottish Government funding to keep their homes warm this winter.

 

Housing associations and the local Council in the region will be given their share of a £9 million national fund to help improve the housing of those most in need, and help to ensure that social housing meets energy efficiency standards – making it easier for tenants to heat their homes.

 

Commenting, South Scotland MSP Joan McAlpine said:

 

“The Scottish Government has made tackling fuel poverty a priority – and this funding for Dumfries and Galloway is further evidence of that.

 

“The £237,500 that has been dedicated to the region will go some way to helping  the Council and housing associations tackle fuel poverty and ensure that some of the most vulnerable households are able to heat their homes.”

 

Fellow South Scotland MSP Emma Harper added:

 

“The Scottish Government is dedicating half a billion pounds to tackle fuel poverty and to improve energy efficiency, which will make it easier and cheaper for tenants to heat their homes.

 

“It is vital that we continue this action and target it in a way that makes a difference to those who need it most across Dumfries and Galloway.”

 

Government release reads:

 

Additional £10 million to help families who most need support to keep warm this winter.

More people across the country will be able to keep themselves and their families warm this winter as a result of £10 million funding announced today.

Housing associations and councils will be given a share of £9 million funding to help improve the housing of some of the poorest households and those most in need.

The funding will help ensure social housing meets energy efficiency standards, making it easier for tenants to heat their home and keep themselves and their families warm.

An extra £1 million is also being made available to provide grants to those households using our interest-free loan scheme, to help meet the cost of installing energy efficiency measures.

In addition, Minister for Housing Kevin Stewart has announced work is now underway to develop Scotland’s Energy Efficiency Programme (SEEP), with 11 pilot projects being implemented to test ways of improving the energy efficiency of Scotland’s buildings and ensures everyone has a warm and comfortable home they can afford to heat.

Mr Stewart said:

“Everyone deserves a safe and warm place to call home. And that is why tackling fuel poverty is  a priority, for me and for this Government.

“I’m delighted that this week a further £9 million is going out to councils and social housing associations to ensure some of Scotland’s most vulnerable households are able to heat their homes.  This means we are spending £113 million this year alone tackling fuel poverty directly.

“I am also pleased to be announcing a further £1 million investment in our interest-free loan scheme which will increase the number of people able to access help to install energy efficiency measures.

“Over the next four years we are making half a billion pounds available to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency. This means, by the end of 2021, we will have committed more than £1 billion to making our homes and buildings warmer and cheaper to heat.

“I announced last week that we are looking again at our approach to fuel poverty and as a result of recommendation by the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group an independent review of the definition of fuel poverty will be carried out.

“It is absolutely vital we make sure the action we are taking makes a difference to those who need it most.”

 

Local authority breakdown:

Council	Award
Aberdeen City	£270,000.00
Aberdeenshire	£312,000.00
Angus	£267,000.00
Argyll and Bute	£267,000.00
City Of Edinburgh	£300,000.00
Clackmannanshire	£225,000.00
Dumfries & Galloway	£237,500.00
Dundee	£300,000.00
East Ayrshire	£300,000.00
East Dunbartonshire (tbc)	£250,000.00
East Lothian	£233,645.00
East Renfrewshire	£318,000.00
Falkirk	£243,300.00
Fife	£250,000.00
Glasgow	£340,225.00
Highland	£295,500.00
Inverclyde	£348,552.00
Midlothian	£342,500.00
Moray	£246,500.00
N Ayrshire	£226,000.00
N Lanark	£240,000.00
Orkney	£229,100.00
Perth and Kinross	£248,375.00
Renfrewshire	£312,000.00
Scottish Borders	£225,000.00
Shetland	£344,163.00
South Ayrshire	£302,640.00
South Lanarkshire	£286,000.00
Stirling	£335,000.00
West Dunbartonshire	£340,000.00
Western Isles	£340,000.00
West Lothian	£225,000.00
total	£9,000,000.00