Charity welcomes home energy help for carers

Age Scotland has welcomed new Scottish Government regulations to extend the eligibility for the Energy Assistance Package to include people in receipt of the Carers' Allowance.
 
The scheme, announced today by Alex Neil MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment, means that around 7,000 carers in Scotland will be able to reduce their heating bills and encourage greater efficiency of energy used at home.
Mr Neil also said the Scottish Government is to review its Fuel Poverty Strategy to ensure it takes full account of recent energy company price hikes and that assistance to fuel poor households in Scotland is targeted as effectively as possible.
The Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum, of which Age Scotland is a contributory body, is integral to the review and will be engaged at each key stage. Mr Neil today announced David Sigsworth as the Forum's new Chair.
Callum Chomczuk, Senior Policy and Parliamentary Officer at Age Scotland, said:
"The charity is very pleased to see that fuel poverty is being tackled head on by the Scottish Government. With rising fuel prices, severe winter weather and household budgets stretched to their limit, it is obvious that fuel concerns need to be immediately addressed. The recent changes will mean that more people will be able to keep warm over winter without constantly worrying about fuel bills.
Over one third of households in Scotland have been pushed into fuel poverty, and older, more vulnerable people have been disproportionately affected. We look forward to working in partnership with David Sigsworth, the new chair for the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum. With his leadership in place, the Forum will be well placed to help reduce fuel poverty in Scotland by 2016."
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