Indyref 2 funding of £20 million to go to fuel insecurity fund after Supreme Court blow
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Funding that was originally earmarked by the Scottish Government for an independence referendum in 2023 will now be used to help tackle fuel poverty.
The change was announced as part of the Scottish Budget with their now little to no hope for nationalists to secure a vote next year.
The cash will enable third sector partners to continue to provide support to households who are at risk of self-disconnection or self-rationing their energy use.
Last week’s Scottish Budget included additional steps to address inequality while tackling the climate emergency including increased investment of over £366 million next year to support the delivery of the Heat in Buildings Strategy.
It forms part of a package of measures introduced by the Scottish Government to protect the most vulnerable households from the impact of the current cost of living crisis.
The decisions taken through the Emergency Budget Review in November enabled the Scottish Government to provide additional immediate support to people most impacted by the cost of living crisis, specifically rising energy prices, by doubling the Fuel Insecurity Fund to £20 million this year.
The Scottish Budget is now protecting that investment into 2023-24.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “People across our country are paying a steep price for the economic mismanagement of the UK government, with the cost of living forcing many to choose between heating their home or eating – the Fuel Insecurity Fund aims to stop that happening.
“With this intervention – as with many others the Scottish Government has set out – we are having to divert funding into policies that aim to minimise the impact on people as a direct result of UK government policy.”
