PDE Column, 11th January 2010 – Cold Snap, Scottish Climate Change, GIVE BLOOD

Help in the cold snap

The cold snap seems to have gone on and on. I was turned back at Glencoe on the 19th December, turned back from Crieff on 27th December and stopped from crossing at Scotch corner on 3rd Jan! And the car park at Abbeymill where my office is has become like an icerink. And it is the cold snap’s very duration that is causing so many serious problems. People’s lives have now been disrupted for weeks. In Parliament this week – I was relieved to be taking the train and not driving to Edinburgh – we have been asking questions about gritting, emergency helplines and support for the elderly.

Understandably many people are rightly worrying about their forthcoming fuel bills. Sadly the Scheme to provide pensioners with free central heating systems that I introduced a decade ago with Donald Dewar was abolished by the SNP last year. But there is an Energy Assistance Package which aims to reduce fuel bills and improve the energy efficiency of homes. To find out what the package can offer you, telephone 0800 512 012 or visit www.energyassistancepackage.com.

The package has four stages:

• Stage one offers free energy advice to anyone who phones the Energy Savings Scotland Advice Centre (ESSAC) network on 0800 512 012.
• Stage two provides advice on low cost energy tariffs to those at risk of fuel poverty.
• Stage three provides a package of standard insulation measures (cavity wall and loft insulation) to older households and those on benefits.
• Stage four offers enhanced energy efficiency measures to those who are most vulnerable to fuel poverty.

So please make sure anyone you know who could benefit gets in touch with the helpline.

Scottish Climate Change

It may seem strange in a cold snap to be talking about climate change – but weather extremes is one of the consequences of rising emissions. I hope in 2010 after a disappointing Copenhagen Summit we pick up the pace in Scotland. It is six months since the passing of the Climate Change Act in Scotland and we need to start seeing these measures put into practice now.
We have not yet seen enough action on the basics like cutting red tape on mini wind-turbines, increasing insulation in homes or boosting the use of electric vehicles in the public sector. The Scottish Government’s manifesto commitment to have renewables in every school – has also been abandoned.

We must seize the renewables opportunities whether those are in marine renewables or local community renewables. I want to see council tax and business rates reductions for those who make their homes and buildings more energy efficient. We need to support public transport and cycling, and the use of electric cars and battery technology to support the industry in Scotland. We must make the most of all opportunities that could come from green jobs and investment, not only to help our environment but also to boost job prospects and our economy.

GIVE BLOOD this week in Paisley

The bad weather puts the NHS under more pressure than usual. So please consider giving blood. The blood service holds donating sessions every month in Paisley Town Hall, the next session being tomorrow Tuesday 12th, 2 – 3:45 p.m. & 5:15 – 8 p.m. OR on the Donating Bus in County Square on Wednesday 13th from 9:30 – 11:30 a.m. & 1 – 3:30 p.m. I certainly plan to come back from Edinburgh early on Tuesday to be there. For more information, including sessions in Linwood, Renfrew and Johnstone please visit http://www.scotblood.co.uk/ or call the Scottish Blood Service on 0845 301 7270.