Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 January 2013
23 Jan 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Fuel Poverty
That should indeed be a good thing, as the minister has chosen to say from a sedentary position, but that is why we call on ministers to provide an update to Parliament on the progress of negotiations with the industry to secure those funds. If the minister wishes to provide that update now, that would be very welcome. If those funds are not secured, clearly that will raise significant question marks over the delivery of the strategy. We must hope that energy companies will recognise their responsibilities to contribute to the work on fuel poverty when they are in dialogue with ministers on the issue.
It is also welcome that Scottish Government funding has been provided for the go-early projects, which have had significant take-up among local authorities. However, I would like more information from ministers on what private investment has been secured for those schemes. I understand that the minister gave a figure in her speech, but it would be good to know whether that figure refers to what has actually been secured. That may well be an indicator of what funds can be levered into the national strategy.
There are questions about when the rules on the operation of the green deal—for example, on the occupancy assessment that will be required—will be concluded in Scotland. It would be good to hear from the minister about what progress has been made on that.
Although we welcome the national retrofit programme, I am conscious of the advice of Energy Action Scotland, which argues that, while the retrofit scheme will be important, there will remain a need for a programme similar to the energy assistance package to ensure that the most vulnerable households who live outside the retrofit programme zones will not need to wait years for help. I welcome the assurance that the minister gave to Dr Murray on the continuing eligibility for assistance of those who are currently eligible under that scheme.
Those general points reinforce the importance of ministers producing further details on how the national retrofit programme will be rolled out. We want more avenues for tackling fuel poverty to be explored, including looking at initiatives such as the collective purchase of energy by communities to bring down costs and further pioneering schemes such as the provision of community heat networks in Aberdeen, to which the minister referred.
In 2001, the Parliament made a commitment to abolish fuel poverty by 2016, and the Scottish Government has rightly and consistently said that it will abide by that commitment. Indeed, earlier this month in response to a question from me, the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities described that as not only as a statutory, but a moral, duty. Given that we have high levels of fuel poverty, which in the past year have unfortunately increased, it is right to ask what assessment ministers have made of their ability to reach the target that is now only three years away. Are ministers confident that their current plans are adequate to meet the target? Will they set milestones in a detailed published plan? Without that, the commitment will be no more than words. I am sure that no-one wants that; rather, they want a clear plan setting out what will be achieved and when.
The scale of the challenge on fuel poverty is clear, but the costs of not meeting that challenge are heavy indeed and are paid by the most vulnerable in our society. However, we have not only the power to deal with the issue, but the wealth of expertise and commitment from many charities and individuals working in the field who are passionate about tackling fuel poverty. They often meet and work with us here and, for those of us that work with them, that passion is very clear. I hope that the Scottish Government will give them the support that they deserve in carrying out that vital work; indeed, the energy companies should support them, too. However, it is clear from those who work day in, day out to tackle fuel poverty that a clearer lead is required from ministers: that is what our amendment calls for.
I move amendment S4M-05424.2, to leave out from first “the Scottish Government’s” to end and insert:
“that the most recent figures available show that 1 in 3 households in Scotland are living in fuel poverty and that fuel poverty in Scotland has increased; notes that, of the £200 million budget that the Scottish Government states that it has set for energy efficiency and tackling fuel poverty, almost two thirds is to come from energy companies and, therefore, calls on the Scottish Ministers to provide an update on the progress of negotiations with the industry to secure these funds; recognises the role that the energy industry has in addressing fuel poverty and notes that Scottish Labour has called for comprehensive reform of the regulation of the UK energy market; recognises that the impact of the UK Government’s proposals on welfare reform will increase the importance of Scottish Government action on fuel poverty; notes the recent comments of the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities at a meeting of the Parliament on 9 January 2013 that the Scottish Government remains committed to its statutory obligations to eradicate fuel poverty as far as reasonably practicable by 2016, and considers that the Scottish Government should bring forward an assessment of how it will fulfil this obligation, including milestones in a detailed published plan.”
15:02
It is also welcome that Scottish Government funding has been provided for the go-early projects, which have had significant take-up among local authorities. However, I would like more information from ministers on what private investment has been secured for those schemes. I understand that the minister gave a figure in her speech, but it would be good to know whether that figure refers to what has actually been secured. That may well be an indicator of what funds can be levered into the national strategy.
There are questions about when the rules on the operation of the green deal—for example, on the occupancy assessment that will be required—will be concluded in Scotland. It would be good to hear from the minister about what progress has been made on that.
Although we welcome the national retrofit programme, I am conscious of the advice of Energy Action Scotland, which argues that, while the retrofit scheme will be important, there will remain a need for a programme similar to the energy assistance package to ensure that the most vulnerable households who live outside the retrofit programme zones will not need to wait years for help. I welcome the assurance that the minister gave to Dr Murray on the continuing eligibility for assistance of those who are currently eligible under that scheme.
Those general points reinforce the importance of ministers producing further details on how the national retrofit programme will be rolled out. We want more avenues for tackling fuel poverty to be explored, including looking at initiatives such as the collective purchase of energy by communities to bring down costs and further pioneering schemes such as the provision of community heat networks in Aberdeen, to which the minister referred.
In 2001, the Parliament made a commitment to abolish fuel poverty by 2016, and the Scottish Government has rightly and consistently said that it will abide by that commitment. Indeed, earlier this month in response to a question from me, the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities described that as not only as a statutory, but a moral, duty. Given that we have high levels of fuel poverty, which in the past year have unfortunately increased, it is right to ask what assessment ministers have made of their ability to reach the target that is now only three years away. Are ministers confident that their current plans are adequate to meet the target? Will they set milestones in a detailed published plan? Without that, the commitment will be no more than words. I am sure that no-one wants that; rather, they want a clear plan setting out what will be achieved and when.
The scale of the challenge on fuel poverty is clear, but the costs of not meeting that challenge are heavy indeed and are paid by the most vulnerable in our society. However, we have not only the power to deal with the issue, but the wealth of expertise and commitment from many charities and individuals working in the field who are passionate about tackling fuel poverty. They often meet and work with us here and, for those of us that work with them, that passion is very clear. I hope that the Scottish Government will give them the support that they deserve in carrying out that vital work; indeed, the energy companies should support them, too. However, it is clear from those who work day in, day out to tackle fuel poverty that a clearer lead is required from ministers: that is what our amendment calls for.
I move amendment S4M-05424.2, to leave out from first “the Scottish Government’s” to end and insert:
“that the most recent figures available show that 1 in 3 households in Scotland are living in fuel poverty and that fuel poverty in Scotland has increased; notes that, of the £200 million budget that the Scottish Government states that it has set for energy efficiency and tackling fuel poverty, almost two thirds is to come from energy companies and, therefore, calls on the Scottish Ministers to provide an update on the progress of negotiations with the industry to secure these funds; recognises the role that the energy industry has in addressing fuel poverty and notes that Scottish Labour has called for comprehensive reform of the regulation of the UK energy market; recognises that the impact of the UK Government’s proposals on welfare reform will increase the importance of Scottish Government action on fuel poverty; notes the recent comments of the Cabinet Secretary for Infrastructure, Investment and Cities at a meeting of the Parliament on 9 January 2013 that the Scottish Government remains committed to its statutory obligations to eradicate fuel poverty as far as reasonably practicable by 2016, and considers that the Scottish Government should bring forward an assessment of how it will fulfil this obligation, including milestones in a detailed published plan.”
15:02
References in this contribution
Motions, questions or amendments mentioned by their reference code.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Elaine Smith)
Lab
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-05424, in the name of Margaret Burgess, on tackling fuel poverty.14:41
The Minister for Housing and Welfare (Margaret Burgess)
SNP
I welcome the opportunity to reconfirm to the Parliament the Scottish Government’s commitment to tackling fuel poverty. The most recent fuel poverty figures ...
Jim Eadie (Edinburgh Southern) (SNP)
SNP
Is the minister aware that there are older people who are being cold called by companies that are not approved installers of the Scottish Government’s insula...
Margaret Burgess
SNP
I thank the member for that question, which concerns a matter that I have already taken up with the Energy Saving Trust and officials. There is a real concer...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I have spent quite some time over many years trying to persuade the Government to adopt a national approach to retrofitting the housing stock for energy effi...
Margaret Burgess
SNP
We introduced the pilots because of the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s delays in telling us how the energy company obligation will work and how to...
Elaine Murray (Dumfriesshire) (Lab)
Lab
Does the minister agree with the Energy Saving Trust’s view that, although there is a need for the national retrofit programme, there is also a need for a su...
Margaret Burgess
SNP
I was coming to that point on the next page of my speech. We are aware of the Energy Saving Trust’s view in that regard. The Government and I are keen to ens...
Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
The recent severe weather conditions and freezing temperatures remind us of the acute need to tackle fuel poverty in Scotland. We live in a time of increasin...
Margaret Burgess
SNP
That is a good thing.
Richard Baker
Lab
That should indeed be a good thing, as the minister has chosen to say from a sedentary position, but that is why we call on ministers to provide an update to...
Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
With increasing domestic energy costs, fuel poverty is never far from the top of the political agenda—and rightly so.It is invidious that households on modes...
Stewart Stevenson (Banffshire and Buchan Coast) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Johnstone
Con
Not at this stage.The Scottish Government’s motion makes reference to the national retrofit programme. I whole-heartedly support the NRP but, in reality, I a...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Will the member take an intervention now?
Alex Johnstone
Con
If Stewart Stevenson insists.
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
I am delighted to hear the member talk about renewables, but is he aware that between 80 and 90 per cent of recent rises in domestic energy bills are attribu...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
I will compensate you for taking that intervention, Mr Johnstone.
Alex Johnstone
Con
I hate to imagine what the tax take would need to be to finance the independent Scotland that the gentleman seems so keen to create.I believe that the most p...
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member take an intervention?
Alex Johnstone
Con
No, thank you.In this Parliament, we regularly address the issue of fuel poverty, which falls within the ambit of the Scottish Government’s responsibilities,...
Liam McArthur (Orkney Islands) (LD)
LD
I certainly welcome this latest debate on fuel poverty, although I regret the way in which the Government and the minister have chosen to frame it.Just as th...
Annabelle Ewing (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
SNP
The member referred to the fact that Orkney is off the gas grid and to the hardship that faces struggling pensioners, in particular, with their sky-high fuel...
Liam McArthur
LD
The reasons for that are not necessarily ones that I am privy to. Nevertheless, it was interesting that the member’s colleague, Stewart Stevenson, vaunted th...
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
The member is misrepresenting me. Will he give way?
Liam McArthur
LD
I would encourage—
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
Come on.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Order.
Stewart Stevenson
SNP
He named me.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Lab
Mr Stevenson. Order.