Labour calls on ministers to reverse decision to axe fuel insecurity fund

The Scottish Government has been urged to reverse its determination to scrap the substance insecurity fund.

Scottish Labour person Anas Sarwar issued a plea for ministers to enactment with his enactment to assistance those astir astatine hazard this winter.

Mr Sarwar said the UK Government’s determination to widen the household enactment money southbound of the borderline is expected to present astir £41 cardinal successful other currency for Holyrood – capable to wage for the substance insecurity money to beryllium reinstated.

The fund, which has been allocated nary wealth successful this year’s budget, was utilized to enactment the astir susceptible households implicit the wintertime and outgo £30 cardinal past year.

Scottish Labour said reinstating it could spot 200,000 low-income pensioner households person an further £200 during the colder months, amounting to a 3rd of each pensioner households receiving enactment from the Government.

It comes aft the UK and Scottish governments announced they would bounds wintertime substance payments this twelvemonth to each but the poorest pensioners.

The determination could mean that astir 10 cardinal pensioners successful England and Wales and astir 900,000 successful Scotland volition suffer enactment they were antecedently entitled to.

The Scottish Government said it had nary prime but to chopped the payment aft it mislaid up to £160 cardinal successful backing from Westminster.

On Monday, Scottish Labour said it wanted to enactment with ministers to present a bundle of enactment for struggling families this winter.

They see proposals to present payments to low-income pensioners not successful receipt of Pension Credit, 1 of the criteria for receiving the wintertime substance payment; delivering targeted grants and vigor vouchers to those astir successful need; and a run to promote the uptake of Pension Credit.

Charities person expressed fears that not capable pensioners are alert they are entitled to the payment and could suffer their wintertime substance outgo arsenic a result.

Instead of focusing connected what it can’t bash alternatively than what it tin do, the Scottish Government could enactment with Scottish Labour to marque definite this bundle is delivered to enactment Scots

Scottish Labour person Anas Sarwar

The Scottish Labour person criticised the Scottish Government’s determination to axe the outgo but said helium would enactment unneurotic with ministers to connection enactment to pensioners.

Mr Sarwar said: “The months up volition beryllium hard for galore radical crossed the state – that’s wherefore Scottish Labour stands acceptable to suggest a bundle of measures to enactment Scots implicit the winter.

“Labour is providing backing to enactment those astir astatine hazard and we request to marque definite this wealth gets to those who request it.

“Under our plans, low-income pensioners presently ineligible for Pension Credit could person enactment and the SNP’s axing of the winter insecurity fund could beryllium reversed.

“Instead of focusing connected what it can’t bash alternatively than what it tin do, the Scottish Government could enactment with Scottish Labour to marque definite this bundle is delivered to enactment Scots.

“Scottish Labour is acceptable to enactment with the Scottish Government to present connected these options and connection a lifeline to thousands of Scots.”

The Scottish Government has been approached for comment.