Children's coalition welcomes support for fuel poor families

The Scottish Children’s Fuel Poverty Coalition welcomes the announcement that families will be eligible for the Scottish Government’s fuel poverty programme for the first time.

The Scottish Government has announced the extension of the fuel poverty programmes to include families on income support with children under five or with disabled children under 16 from April 2009.

Speaking on behalf of the Scottish Children's Fuel Poverty coalition John Dickie said:

“This is a welcome first step in supporting fuel poor families in Scotland. It will benefit some of our most vulnerable children by ensuring families get substantial energy efficiency improvements needed to reduce the devastating impact of rocketing bills.”

“However, these measures will only go so far. We are a member of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum and firmly believe that the recommendations of the Forum need to be acted upon, including the ‘step change’ in investment needed to make sure that in future no Scottish family has to make impossible choices between paying energy bills, buying food or getting into debt.”

Notes for editors

1. SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT ON FUEL POVERTY
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing announced an extra £10 million for the Central Heating Programme and the extension of the government’s fuel poverty programmes to include families on income support with children under five or with disabled children under 16 from April 2009 on Saturday 18th October. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2008/10/17132304

2. SCOTTISH FUEL POVERTY FORUM REPORT
The report was published on 10th October 2008. The Scottish Children’s Fuel Poverty Coalition is a member of the Forum. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/10/09155649/0

3. ABOUT THE SCOTTISH CHILDREN’S FUEL POVERTY COALITION
The Scottish Children’s Fuel Poverty Coalition is a coalition of organisations who are concerned with Fuel Poverty in Scotland amongst children, young people and families have produced this briefing to highlight the reality of living in fuel poverty in 21st Century Scotland. The coalition believes that no Scottish child should live in a cold, damp home – and no parent should have to choose between feeding their children, keeping them warm or going into debt. The coalition calls on the Scottish and Westminster Governments’ to take action to eradicate fuel poverty amongst children, young people and families. The coalition consists of - Barnardo’s Scotland, Capability Scotland, Children in Scotland, Child Poverty Action Group Scotland, Save the Children and Quarriers.

The coalition estimates that at least 100,000 (1 in 10) children in Scotland are living in fuel poverty. For those living in fuel poverty, the consequences are misery, discomfort, ill health and debt. It often means choosing between essential household items or living in an adequately heated home – a hot meal, turning on a heater or getting into debt.