“End fuel poverty’s devastating impact on children” say campaigners

62 000 families are living in fuel poverty according to shocking new statistics published by the Scottish Government today. With high energy prices undermining fuel poverty targets, a coalition including Barnardo’s, the Child Poverty Action Group, Capability Scotland and Children in Scotland are calling for a greater focus on fuel poverty’s devastating impact on children.

John Dickie, Head of the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) in Scotland, a member of the coalition, said:

“These figures reinforce our fear that at least 100 000 children in Scotland are living in fuel poverty. For them fuel poverty means living in homes where hard pressed parents are making impossible choices between paying fuel bills, buying food or going into debt. It means children struggling to find a warm place at home to do homework, and it too often means real damage to children’s health.”

According to Children in Scotland’s Paula Evans, action is needed on three fronts to bring an end to this scandal.

“First we need to see action to boost the incomes of our poorest families by increasing benefits and tax credit levels and providing more advice and information to make sure families get the financial support they are entitled to. Second we need to see an extension of the Scottish Government’s central heating programme so it reaches vulnerable families and third we need to see energy companies introduce social tariffs so that our worst off families pay the lowest available fuel tariffs. Only this combined action will stop children going cold in the future.”

Maureen Fraser, Parliamentary and Policy Officer at Barnardo’s Scotland, added;

“It is unacceptable in this day and age that so many children and families are living in fuel poverty. It is scandalous that in 21st Century Scotland people are having to choose whether to eat or heat. There are many initiatives that could be taken by both the Scottish and Westminster governments to eradicate fuel poverty forever but mandating energy suppliers to introduce social tariffs for their poorest customers would be a great place to start!”

Media contacts:
John Dickie, Head of CPAG in Scotland on 0141 552 3656 mobile 07795 340 618
Maureen Fraser, Parliamentary/Policy Officer, Barnardos Scotland 079 6666 3085.
Paula Evans, Policy & Parliamentary Officer, Children in Scotland, Mobile: 07793 588 670

Notes for editors

1. Today’s Scottish Government report on fuel poverty can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/206271/0054811.pdf
2. Barnardos Scotland, Save the Children, Capability Scotland, Child Poverty Action Group Scotland and Children in Scotland have been working together since January 2005 in a coalition to campaign for measures to eradicate fuel poverty among children living in Scotland.