Highland MSP's concern for rural areas over delays to winter fuel payment
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Highlands MSP Rhoda Grant has expressed concern for rural areas in the wake of delays to the roll-out of the winter heating payment.
The Scottish Labour regional MSP was speaking out after the Scottish Government's update on the social security programme debate,
She said: “It is truly unbelievable that again today we are hearing about further delays in implementing the Scottish Social Security System.
"This new benefit pays a fixed sum of £50 instead of paying out £25 for every week of cold weather, which was paid by the benefit it replaces.
"I am particularly concerned about the effects of this policy on rural areas.
"We know that the rate of fuel poverty is significantly higher in rural off gas grid areas compared with the more urban areas of Scotland.
"Before the cost of living crisis, those living in rural areas faced on average 30 per cent higher costs of living.
"In December 2021, 40 per cent of people living in the Western Isles lived in fuel poverty compared to 13 per cent in East Renfrewshire. The Scottish average was 24 per cent of all households.
"The very places that have the highest fuel poverty will lose the most.
"Even Energy Action Scotland have warned that 'lives will be lost due to the inadequate level of support provided' and they raised the concern that the new payment will have 'less impact on fuel poverty than the benefit it replaces'.
"It is desperately sad that the Tories Cold Weather Payment is more socially just than that of the SNP Government’s Low Income Winter Heating Assistance.”
In response, Kate Forbes MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch said: “In total last year, 11,000 people in the whole of Scotland received a cold weather payment from Westminster – and it was only paid out when the temperature was consistently below freezing for a sustained period.
“This year in the Highlands alone, around 14,000 households will receive the Scottish Government’s new winter heating payment to help with the cost of living crisis.
“Last week the First Minister confirmed that the Scottish Government will continue to ensure that people who are entitled to this benefit receive the money timeously.”
