Region to benefit from £1.2 million fund to tackle fuel poverty

SNP MSP for the South of Scotland Dr Aileen McLeod today (Tuesday) welcomed news that Dumfries & Galloway is to benefit from a new £1.2 million fund from the Scottish Government to help tackle fuel poverty. The investment will be targeted at fuel poor households and will be used for the installation of energy efficiency measures such as solid wall insulation and double glazing.

Dr McLeod commented:

“We know that fuel poverty is a real problem in Dumfries & Galloway with over 40% of households experiencing some level of fuel poverty. The problem of low household incomes is compounded by the fact that so many people do not have access to the gas network, leaving many people relying on more expensive options to heat their homes.

“One of the other factors behind fuel poverty in this region is the numbers of old properties with solid stone walls which are more difficult to insulate to modern standards, so it is particularly good that this funding will be directed towards measures such as solid wall insulation, which I hope will help households that maybe have not benefitted from previous scheme due to the way their house was built.

“I’m also delighted that the region has secured one of the highest awards in Scotland, clear evidence that the Scottish Government is taking the issue of fuel poverty in rural areas seriously.

“Of course, while fuel bills continue to spiral out of control, there is only so much that the Government can do to tackle fuel poverty by helping people to use less fuel. With the full powers of independence we would be able to use Scotland’s vast resources to lift many more people out of fuel poverty altogether.”