Government to legislate fuel poverty cut by 2040

Scotland is to bring in a new law commiting ministers to reducing fuel poverty to 5% by 2040.

The target will be included in a new Bill which will require ministers to publish progress reports every five years.

The plans are part of the Scottish Government's draft fuel poverty strategy - which restates Nicola Sturgeon's pledge to set up publicly owned energy company.

Such a move would “to contribute to tackling fuel poverty and supporting economic developmen,'' the strategy said.

Figures from 2016 showed more than a quarter (26.5%) of households were affected by the problem, with around 649,000 homes in this category.

Publishing the new Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Bill, Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said: “Everyone in Scotland should have the right to live in a warm, comfortable home and our new target is ambitious and achievable.

“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 legilsation will put in place a new definition of fuel poverty, more focused on low income households.

Mr Stewart said this would allow ministers to “target interventions more effectively to those who need help most''.

In addition to the headline ambition of cutting fuel poverty to 5% by 2040, there will be interim targets to help measure progress.

The strategy also pledged a review of eligibility for schemes which can help people improve the energy efficiency of their homes

Mr Stewart said the government was “setting out actions to improve people's lives, provide support to those who need it most and create jobs by helping industry to invest in the energy efficiency and low carbon heating measures that will be so crucial to delivering our aims''.

He added: “Our commitment to eradicating fuel poverty is clear.

“We have invested more than #1 billion since 2009 in energy efficiency and tackling fuel poverty, designated energy efficiency as a national infrastructure priority, and, now, set out a clear target in legislation, with a coherent strategy describing how to get there.'