LABOUR HIT OUT AT FUEL POVERTY NUMBERS IN DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
Written by author on January 13, 2016
MSP Elaine Murray and Dumfries & Galloway Council Leader Ronnie Nicholson have slammed the Scottish Government after new figures reveal that they are planning to cut the fuel poverty budget by £15 million.
The latest estimates suggest that 45% of households in Dumfries & Galloway live in fuel poverty and 63% of people over 60 in Dumfries & Galloway are in fuel poverty.
The local Labour politicians back plans for a Warm Homes Act, which will change building and planning regulations to tackle fuel poverty.
Dumfriesshire MSP Elaine Murray said: “No family in Dumfries & Galloway should have to choose between heating and eating. It’s an absolute scandal that 45% of households in our region are living in fuel poverty, so it beggars belief that the Scottish Government in Edinburgh are planning a huge cut to the fuel poverty budget. Fuel poverty is on the increase in Dumfries & Galloway and this cut will only increase it further.
“We need a different approach to helping hard working families in our region who are struggling to pay their bills. That’s why we should support plans for a Warm Homes Act – to deliver important changes in planning and building regulations so we can tackle fuel poverty, live up to our aspirations to be a world leader in tackling climate change and create vital jobs at the same time.”
Leader of Dumfries & Galloway Council, Ronnie Nicholson added: “Fuel poverty is a real problem in Dumfries and Galloway, particularly for people with disabilities or long-term health problems and pensioners, 63% of whom are living in fuel poverty in the region. It is exacerbated in our region due to rurality making fuel prices higher and many homes not having access to mains gas. Tackling the scandal of fuel poverty is a keen aim of our recently agreed anti-poverty strategy but that will be undermined if the Scottish Government go ahead with this draconian cut in the budget.”
