An End To Universal Free Central Heating Programme For Pensioners

Grave concerns have emerged to news that the Scottish Government will end the universal access for pensioners to the hugely successful central heating programme following their decision to make real terms cuts to fuel poverty funding over the next three years.

Cabinet Secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced on Thursday 22nd that the central heating programme will in future be ‘targeted’ despite the repeated assertions by the First Minister that they would ‘enhance and improve’ the programme.

Ms Alexander said ‘This announcement is in stark contrast to the First Minister’ Alex Salmond’s denial a few months ago that he was reducing the central heating programme. When Alex Salmond promised to enhance and improve the service we now see he actually meant to cut and reduce access to the programme’

‘Free central heating waiting lists have grown longer over recent times than at any point since the scheme’s introduction in 2001. The SNP’s approach to dealing with the popularity of the scheme and challenge of a growing waiting list appears to be to restrict the number of people who will be entitled in the future to the free scheme.’

‘I fail to see why Nicola Sturgeon thinks cutting out many people currently eligible for this free heating opportunity will help towards tackling fuel poverty? This will come as a blow to many of Scotland’s pensioners’