1 in 4 Scottish homes in fuel poverty

The number of Scottish households in fuel poverty has risen by 26,000 since last year, official reports show.

The figures mean that a quarter of Scottish homes now face difficulties paying their energy bills with one of the coldest winters in years predicted.

Fuel poverty is defined as when a household is forced to spend over ten per cent of its total income on fuel bills. The sixth annual Fuel Poverty Strategy Progress Report shows that fuel poverty has increased across the UK, mostly due to the recent spike in the price of oil and gas.

This rise will prove embarrassing for the government, which since the passing of the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act in 2000 is legally bound to eradicate fuel poverty in all vulnerable households—particularly amongst pensioners and the disabled—by 2018.

The government has promised to improve the situation and has implemented a so-called warm front and energy efficiency scheme. Warm front grants of up to £4,000 are available for anyone wishing to apply, and submissions are assessed on energy efficiency of the property, cost of energy and household income.

The grants come in the form of subsidised heating bills or home insulation. According to a government announcement in September, up to 11 million low-income households are set to benefit.

However, details published in The Times suggest the estimates may be misleading, with loopholes threatening to exclude millions of households.

Cuts of up to 25 per cent to the Warm Front scheme earlier this year further undermine efforts, making the likelihood of total eradication of fuel poverty across the UK within the next 10 years even less likely.

Consumers' lobbies have expressed fears that fuel poverty could lead to deaths over the winter, particularly among the elderly.

A spokesperson for the National Pensioners’ Convention said: “Since 1997, we have lost over 260,000 pensioners during the winter months because of cold-related illnesses, yet the government seems incapable of acting.

"Pensioners see rising fuel bills and are constantly worried whether they can afford to put their heating on.”