Hume - WINTER DEATH FIGURES SHOW GOVERNMENT ATTITUDE TO FUEL POVERTY IS COMPLACENT AND MISGUIDED
November 5, 2009 3:17 PM
Jim Hume MSP
Jim Hume, Liberal Democrat MSP for the South of Scotland, has today commented on official figures showing that the number of winter deaths across Scotland increased to 3,510 last year.
Meanwhile in the South of Scotland, a recent survey revealed that half of all residents in the South of Scotland are worried about meeting heating bills, and more than half are worried about a friend or relative being able to afford their heating.
Jim Hume said: "These bleak figures show the human cost of fuel poverty. But earlier this month the Deputy First Minister insisted that nothing more needed to be done to improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty in Scotland.
"Today's figures show just how complacent and misguided that attitude is.
"There is growing consensus that the measures in place to tackle fuel poverty aren't enough. A third of the Home Insulation Scheme budget is being spent on administration and almost none of the £15 million match-funding promised has actually been delivered.
"The Scottish Government needs to accept that more must be done to fight fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency. This is how we will cut winter deaths."
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