Dave Thompson MSP

SKYE, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP Dave Thompson has welcomed the announcement of funds to take the amount of funding for home insulation grants in the Highland Council area to more than £1 million this year alone.

The announcement of the latest award of £385,000 for The Highland Council under the Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) was made this week by Alex Neil, Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure and Capital Investment. Added to £669,000 given earlier this year for the local authority to distribute to householders, this latest award takes the total for the area beyond £1 million. Although the package is administered by local authorities, help is targeted at private householders.

Already energy efficiency has been improved in more than 1,600 Highland homes after local authority housing staff wrote to more than 16,000 householders in selected council wards to invite them to apply for a free survey and loft and cavity wall insulation.

This third tranche of Scottish Government money will now be targeted by Highland Council at council wards where it has not yet applied the funding.

“This is good news for many in the Highlands who will be able to improve the fuel efficiency of their homes,” said Mr Thompson.

“With recent price rises from the major energy companies and winter fast approaching, it is important that people take steps now to ensure their homes are as fuel efficient as possible.

“That is why Alex Neil’s announcement of extra funds is so well-timed and important for those in our society who face fuel poverty.

Announcing the initiative, Mr Neil said: “With the onset of winter just around the corner, now more than ever, we need to offer support and immediate assistance to those most in need to help them heat their homes and stay energy efficient.

“That is why, through this scheme, we are injecting millions of pounds in our fight to help stamp out fuel poverty.

He added: "Price hikes by energy companies continue to undermine the Scottish Government's attempts to lift people out of fuel poverty. It is a disgrace that so many people are suffering from fuel poverty in energy-rich Scotland, and the Scottish Parliament needs full powers so that we can do more to help those in most need."

Trisha McAuley, Depute Director of Consumer Focus Scotland added: "Consumer Focus Scotland welcomes the announcement of awards to local authorities of funding for the Universal Home Insulation Scheme. The high take up of insulation measures last year showed how effective the Scheme is, both in terms of tackling fuel poverty, and also of reducing carbon emissions."

The first two tranches from the Scottish Government were targeted by The Highland Council to households in the council’s Skye and Badenoch and Strathspey wards, as well as the East Sutherland and Edderton ward. This latest portion is expected to be targeted to the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh Ward and the North West and Central Sutherland Ward. Householders in these areas will shortly receive a letter from Highland Council inviting them to apply to take advantage of the scheme.

Mr Thompson said: “This is just one of the ways people can see a direct impact from the policies of the SNP Scottish Government.

“Helping people to reduce their energy consumption is a major part of how we hope to reduce Scotland’s overall carbon footprint and meet the world’s most ambitious climate change targets by 2020.

Mr Thompson also noted that Highland Council had decided to allocate funds under the scheme to council wards where it feels fuel poverty is the greatest issue, on the assumption that further funds would continue to be made available throughout the year by the Scottish Government and allow remaining areas to be covered.

Notes:

Fuel poverty is defined as spending 10 per cent or more of household income on domestic fuel bills.

In total, Mr Neil announced a £12.5 million third tranche of funding for the UHIS package for Scotland and The Highland Council was successful in a bid for £385,000 of this.