Heating your home or putting food on the table.

This the stark reality that face the islanders living in the Northern and Western Isles who make this choice daily.?The Northern and western isles have some of the most spectacular scenery in the world and have received numerous awards. However, if you live there then you are faced with living with high levels of?Domestic Fuel Poverty, hopefully this will soon change as Targets committing the Scottish Government to reduce fuel poverty to below 5% of Scottish households by 2040 have been approved by MSPs. The Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019 was passed to cut the number of households affected by “the blight of fuel poverty” to 15% by 2030 and 5% by 2040. This will be commonly known as the “2040 target” Obviously the figures mentioned above have probably doubled in the past 12 Months.

“The benefits of reducing fuel poverty go far beyond simply removing the need for people to choose between heating and eating,” There are also indications?that reducing domestic fuel poverty would have a positive effect on?physical and mental health of the people living in rural communities. There should be enough resources made available so that we can effectively tackle the drivers of fuel poverty and end the unacceptable situation of people having to live?in cold homes in Scotland.” Remote rural and island communities have been identified to have the highest levels of fuel poverty, yet this won’t be addressed in the subsequent stages as set down by the Bill. I am personally not convinced by insulating your homes will make a significant difference as there are people living in croft houses and similar type accommodation which is not partible to be insulated.

This is not the first time that the Scottish government have attempted to try and reduce this problem. The Housing (Scotland) Act 2001 set a statutory duty on the Scottish Government to eradicate fuel poverty in Scotland, as far as was reasonably practicable, by November 2016. This statutory duty expired, and the target was missed.??The Highlands and islands are still suffering with exceptionally high levels of fuel poverty. Orkney Islands 63%, Eilean Siar (Western Isles) 62%,?Shetland Islands 53%. . It has now been announced?that over ￡1billion has been pledged by the Scottish Government to assist with the reduction of fuel poverty in accordance with this act. It is totally unacceptable for the people of the Northern and Western isles to have to wait another 41 Years until the level of domestic fuel poverty is consistent?with people living on the UK mainland