Housing Minister opens national fuel poverty conference

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has opened today’s national Fuel Poverty Matters conference in Clydebank.

Mr Stewart will use the conference to outline the Scottish Government’s plans to improve the energy efficiency of homes across the country over the coming years and how new devolved powers will put the Scottish Government in charge of delivering programmes to help mitigate the cost of energy for Scottish households.

He said: “Everyone should be able to heat their home and keep themselves and their families warm, therefore tackling and eradicating fuel poverty is vital and we must make sure action we are taking is making a difference to those that need it most.

“Since 2008 over one million energy efficiency measures have been installed in almost one million households across Scotland which has helped make homes warmer and easier to heat. We will build on this by investing half a billion pounds over the next four years to continue tackling fuel poverty and improving energy efficiency.

“Energy Action Scotland has been a valued member of the Fuel Poverty Forum for a number of years and I look forward to continuing to work alongside them as we develop our approach to tackling fuel poverty.”

Fuel poverty is a cross-cutting issue that impacts on housing, energy, health and consumer rights and so representatives from the private, public and third sectors will attend the conference to discuss plans and solutions.

Director of Energy Action Scotland, Norman Kerr, commented: “Our network has a wealth of knowledge and experience about what is happening on the ground in order to turn cold, damp houses into warm, dry homes. This conference aims to help support plans for ending the blight of fuel poverty in Scotland.”

The input of the commercial sector for energy is essential and the conference is being supported by the gas distribution company SGN.

SGN’s Social Strategy Manager, Robbie Stevenson, said: “We’re once again delighted to sponsor Energy Action Scotland’s annual conference, particularly at this milestone time as the Scottish Government finalises its future policy strategy for the eradication of fuel poverty.

“Raising awareness and delivering solutions to bring about the eradication of this totally unacceptable social blight in today’s society is essential. So I’m calling upon all the agencies at the conference to both collaborate together and coordinate efforts, to bring about real progress.”

Topics for discussion at the conference include new energy efficiency grant programmes, the roll-out of smart meters, and support for consumers on low incomes.