Fuel poverty rises by 23%

Responding to the news that the percentage of people living in fuel poverty increased by 23% between 2019 and 2022, Scottish Liberal Democrat climate emergency spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP has criticised the lack of action from the SNP-Green Government and called on ministers to roll out an urgent nationwide insulation programme.

The Scottish Housing Conditions Survey found that 791,000 households were estimated to be in fuel poverty in 2022, compared to an estimated 613,000 households in 2019. This represents a rise of 23%.

Levels of extreme fuel poverty also increased, from 311,000 households in 2019 to 472,000 in 2022.

Mr McArthur said:

“A staggering number of households are being pushed into fuel poverty. This means more misery for more families and individuals in communities across Scotland.

“Unfortunately, the response from SNP and Green ministers is to blame others while lacking the necessary urgency themselves.  Under the Scottish Government’s existing flagship scheme, it could take almost 100 years to insulate eligible homes.

“That is not good enough. Scottish Liberal Democrats will continue to press ministers to roll out a new nationwide insultation programme to meet the scale of the challenge, providing a win-win of cutting emissions and household energy bills.”