Meeting of the Parliament 04 February 2015
We are considering the full extent of the scale of investment that would be required to tackle this issue. Indeed, the matter has been raised with us by the Parliament’s Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee. I am not for a moment suggesting that the £20 million that has been allocated today will meet all the requirements in this area, but it represents a solid commitment by this Government to tackling fuel poverty and energy efficiency and to making a constructive contribution to realising our climate change targets, to which the Government attaches great significance. I should also point out that our carbon reduction efforts will be complemented by an additional £4 million of capital funding to support cycling infrastructure in 2015-16. Ministers will announce the details of that investment shortly.
To deliver a fairer society, we must focus on the importance of creating a fair work culture. This Government has targeted its pay policy at those on the lowest incomes through measures such as the Scottish living wage. More than 100 companies across Scotland are now accredited as living wage employers to the benefit of 100,000 individuals, and we aim to expand that number to 150 companies by the end of the year. We will also promote better engagement of employees in business through the establishment this year of the fair work convention.
We are pleased with the progress that is being made, which has been supported by the additional £200,000 that we allocated to the Poverty Alliance in November to encourage more employers to deliver the living wage in Scotland. However, we are determined to do all that we can and, today, I can announce that I will allocate an additional £200,000 in 2015-16 to support further progress in our fair work objectives.