Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 23 January 2013
23 Jan 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Fuel Poverty
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 modest incomes see such a high proportion of their available budget spent on heating their homes. Regrettably—some might say predictably—the Scottish Government’s motion, which seeks to address the issue, is a bit simplistic and predictable. A call on the UK Government to tackle the energy market demonstrates that there is no subject, however serious, on which the Scottish Government will not deploy its usual mantra of, “It’s all the fault of Westminster.” That must be particularly galling to hear for those who struggle to pay their bills, when every major wind farm development that the Scottish Government falls over itself to support means that greater levels of subsidies are paid for by the very consumers who face the choice of whether to heat or eat.
It is invidious that households on modest incomes see such a high proportion of their available budget spent on heating their homes. Regrettably—some might say predictably—the Scottish Government’s motion, which seeks to address the issue, is a bit simplistic and predictable. A call on the UK Government to tackle the energy market demonstrates that there is no subject, however serious, on which the Scottish Government will not deploy its usual mantra of, “It’s all the fault of Westminster.” That must be particularly galling to hear for those who struggle to pay their bills, when every major wind farm development that the Scottish Government falls over itself to support means that greater levels of subsidies are paid for by the very consumers who face the choice of whether to heat or eat.
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.