Fears that around 25,000 people could be affected by fuel poverty in the Highlands sparks Labour calls for those struggling to pay energy bills to get a £70 boost to their Winter Fuel Payment

THOUSANDS of people in the Highlands face being left in the cold unless the Scottish Government acts now, according to a regional MSP who warns “warm words” will not be enough to heat homes this winter.

Highland and Islands Labour member Rhoda Grant has called on the government to take up her party’s plans to expand the Winter Fuel Payment as new figures revealed the move could help almost 25,000 people across the region.

Last week, party leader Anas Sarwar called on the SNP administration to introduce a £70 winter fuel supplement for low-income pensioners and struggling families, as a cost of living crisis looms, with fuel prices set to rise and the end of the £20 uplift in Universal Credit. At the start of this month the energy price cap rose by £139 – the largest increase in history – but the rate of Winter Fuel Payment has been frozen for a decade.

The Scottish Parliament has the power to expand Winter Fuel Payments and alleviate fuel poverty, which disproportionately affects people in the Highlands, but the Scottish Government has delayed devolving the benefit from the UK Department of Work and Pensions for up to four years.

Mrs Grant is now urging it to use the powers it does have to try and ensure no-one faces a choice between heating and eating this winter, saying there is “no time to waste.”

“This winter too many Scots are facing fuel poverty as energy prices spiral out of control,” she said.

“The Scottish Parliament can make a difference here.

“We have the powers to ensure payments reflect the pressures on fuel poor households but the SNP have delayed taking responsibility.

“No-one should have to face a choice between heating and eating this winter.

“That’s why Labour would give people struggling with fuel poverty £70 now to help them through the winter months.

“In the Highlands this would help up to 24,791 people. The Scottish Government’s warm words are cold comfort if they fail to act. The winter months are fast approaching and we have a cost of living crisis escalating by the day – there is no time to waste.

“The SNP must back this policy now and start moving to get this money in people’s pockets.”

Housing association bosses also said this week that soaring energy prices risk accentuating fuel poverty problems in the north.

Di Alexander, chairman of the Highlands and Islands Housing Associations Affordable Warmth group, said: “The autumn and winter are likely to be the most difficult yet for the far-too-long ignored fuel poor, in off-gas areas in particular.”

Fuel poverty in the region is due to be discussed at a summit in Sutherland tomorrow.

Finance Secretary and MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Kate Forbes, is among those set to speak at the event.

Labour insists the Scottish Government can take action through mechanisms it already has control over including pension credit, payments to families with a disabled child and the provision of council tax reductions, but regional SNP MSP Emma Roddick blamed Westminster for undermining efforts to tackle the issue north of the border.

She said: “I am acutely aware of the levels of fuel poverty in the Highlands and Islands and extremely concerned by the effect of an inadequate social security system on those suffering it.

“While Social Security Scotland is working hard to build a new, fairer system, the UK government is dragging its heels on providing the data required to make changes to the system. Every increase the Scottish Government makes to income through social security is matched by cuts from down south.

“Rather than attacking the Scottish Government for not implementing something outwith their control, Labour should be focussing their efforts on the UK government’s disastrous plan to cut the uplift to Universal Credit.”

Related Story – Highland councillors raise fuel poverty concerns with UK government minister