Holyrood bill sets targets for cutting fuel poverty

No more than 5% of households in Scotland should be living in fuel poverty by 2040, under a new target set out in a Scottish Government bill introduced to Holyrood today.

The Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Bill also sets out a new definition of fuel poverty, using the UK minimum income standard. This will mean a household is classed as fuel poor if its required fuel costs are more than 10% of the household’s income after housing costs are paid, and the remaining income is insufficient to maintain an acceptable standard of living.

Additionally the bill requires ministers to publish a fuel poverty strategy as well as a progress report every five years, and a report at the end of the target date.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart described the new target as "ambitious and achievable". He commented: "Scotland is one of only a handful of European countries to define fuel poverty, let alone set a goal to eradicate it. Achieving the target will place Scotland amongst the very best in the world in terms of tackling fuel poverty.

"The new definition, recommended by a panel of independent academic experts, focuses on low income households, meaning we can target interventions more effectively to those who need help most."

Along with the bill the Government has published a draft strategy, which includes helping industry to invest in energy efficiency and low carbon heating measures. A final version will be published by 2019.

Click here to access the bill and related papers, and here for the draft strategy.