Inside Holyrood: Heating bill surge is ‘devastating’ as MSP Rhoda Grant says 'It’s unfair and discriminating that we should pay more because of where we live'
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This month has been a busy one with many issues in the forefront of my mind.
Unsurprisingly, I’ve been focusing on the devastating announcement from OfGem that the price cap on energy has been increased by £693 to nearly £2000. What an eye-watering figure for any family.
Westminster has announced plans to help with bills and to give a council tax rebate of £150. This is welcome but, with National Insurance also rising in April, I don’t think its enough. In fact, I barely think it will touch the sides for some constituents.
For example, last year, a poll found that nearly a third of Scots had rationed their energy use so they could afford to spend money on other goods and services. I imagine that figure is higher in the Highlands and Islands. We’ve always had higher energy bills and it’s led to many frustrating parliamentary debates in the past.
It’s unfair and discriminating that we should pay more because of where we live and I think we’re all more desperate to see change. Families just cannot pinch and squeeze anymore out of their income and this is something I will continue to press for.
Hidden in the headlines, a law change in Scotland requiring every home to have interlinked fire alarms has come into place.
Although I’m completely supportive in the spirit of the law change after the terrible events at Grenfell, these alarms can cost hundreds of pounds to buy and install.
I’ve had many constituents come to me asking if any help will be provided. The Scottish Government do provide help however, there are people falling through the cracks. I hope the government give this change a bit of attention – especially after the recent price cap increase.
Consultation on my Right to Food Bill ends on February 16 and I would again encourage people to give their feedback to the proposals. So far, I have received 97 responses.
The Bill would enshrine the right to good quality food for every man woman and child in Scotland into Scot’s law specifically, and establish an independent body to take forward the responsibility for ensuring every Scot is well fed.
I have been hosting various meetings with organisations on the background to the Bill and will be chairing an event being organised by Nourish Scotland on Tuesday February 8, in partnership with the Scottish Food Coalition.
Speakers will discuss how we can ensure that food policy is founded in human rights, with social and environmental justice at its heart.
The Right to Food Bill was originally launched by former Labour MSP Elaine Smith, who represented Central Scotland, and I am honoured to be able to try to progress it.
We are in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis and hundreds of families are still relying on foodbanks to survive.
Anyone wishing to respond to the consultation can find more information, and the smart survey, can click here
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