SNP MISLED PENSIONERS ON FREE HEATING

- Pensioners in Gallowhill, Elderslie and Renfrew lose out -

Scottish Labour’s Wendy Alexander has accused the SNP government of telling Parliament that pensioners are still eligible for a free central heating system – whilst in practice refusing to fund new systems.

Wendy knew pensioner Buddies kept applying but were always getting refused by Scottish Gas because they were not on benefits. People like the Caroll’s in Gallowhill, the Campbell’s in Elderslie and Mrs O’Hara in Renfrew.  As one of the original architects of the scheme with Donald Dewar 8 years ago, she decided to investigate further.

As a result of her questions in Parliament it now emerges that not a single pensioner who was not on pensioner credit in fact got a system. Furthermore, the overall number of systems installed has fallen by more than half since October.

Nicola Sturgeon told Parliament less than a year ago in a statement (22 May, 2008) that until April this year pensioners in receipt of Pensioner Credit would be prioritised, but “applications from people in other categories will continue to be considered.”  Ms Sturgeon continued, “That does not mean that nobody else will get a central heating system.

But this week Housing Minister Alex Neil admitted in a parliamentary answer to Wendy, “Only applicants in the priority groups announced on 22 May 2008 and again on 18 October 2008, have gone on to receive a central heating system under the Programme. In practice only those on Pensioner Credit got replacement systems.”

Paisley North MSP Wendy Alexander said:

“The SNP Government has misled pensioners. They told Parliament that those not on benefits were still eligible to claim £3,500 of free central heating. But in fact, for nearly a year now no pensioner who doesn’t get Pensioner Credit has got a replacement heating system.

I have been contacted by many Renfrewshire pensioners who have lost out. Last week I visited William and Mary Carroll who lost out because he had a small works pension as a result of driving buses for over 30 years. It is wrong that couples like William and Mary are losing out. And they are not the only ones – the Campbell family in Elderslie has lost out, Mrs O’Hara in Renfrew has lost out.

It is bad enough that the SNP have removed a universal benefit for pensioners. The fact that they are also wasting people’s time by falsely pretending that the scheme is still open to everyone when it is not is appalling.”

William Carroll of Gallowhill said:

“If our system had broken this time last year they would have got a new system – now we are getting nothing. If we had known we were never going to get help we would never have bothered wasting our time.

Both my wife and I are over 60, and recently applied on line to the Scottish Government ‘Warm Deal Programme’ for help with replacing/repairing our broken down central heating system. As we appear to meet all criteria for assistance, I was disappointed to learn, that because neither of us are claiming benefits we were not eligible.

We both feel that after working all these years, and following Government advice, taking out a works pension, we get crucified because we had the temerity to save for our older years.”