The Economy Committee takes evidence on the draft budget focussing on fuel poverty
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Di Alexander, Chair, Scottish Rural Poverty Taskforce says there are problems with the definition of fuel poverty.
He asks for fuel poverty definition to be improved and says the indicators and assumptions that are used in the evidence also needs to be looked at.
Image source, bbcElizabeth Leighton from Existing Homes Alliance Scotland
Elizabeth Leighton from Existing Homes Alliance Scotland calls a holistic approach which includes tackling fuel poverty.
Ms Leighton highlights the success of partnership working between the NHS and cancer carers, alongside those tackling fuel poverty.
Professor David Sigsworth, former Chair of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group says the route to success in tackling fuel poverty is already marked out in Scandinavian countries.
The academic says in Scandaniva fuel poverty is not part of society.
Scottish Labour has called for an "ambitious" new goal to eliminate fuel poverty.
The party claimed the Scottish government had failed to meet its own target on the issue.
Image source, Getty ImagesRecent figures indicated 35% of households were in fuel poverty - defined as those who spend more than 10% of their income on heating costs.
The Scottish government said £1bn was being spent on tackling the problem and on improving energy efficiency.
It promised to look at any "constructive" proposals put forward by opposition parties.
SNP MSP Gillian Martin says other northern European countries don't have the same fuel poverty as Scotland and asks what these countries do differently.
Elizabeth Leighton, Policy advisor and secretariat, Existing Homes Alliance Scotland, says Denmark have had a steady energy strategy since the 1970s and we haven't had that steady policy in the UK.
Ms Leighton says they also have higher quality housing and take pride in heating homes and investing in that.
On 6 December 2016, the Scottish House Condition Survey for2015, external was published showing that the number of Scottish households living in fuel poverty had dropped from 845,000 households in 2014 (34.9%) to 748,000 (30.7%) households in 2015.
Image source, bbcMost heat is lost from homes through the windows and roof
In 2006, Energy Action Scotland (EAS) estimated that spending of around £170m per year was required in order to eradicate fuel poverty by 2016.
In evidence to the Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee on 26 October 2011, the EAS suggested that this figure would now need to be revised upwards to around £200m per year, reflecting the fact that fuel poverty spending has been much lower than £170m per year since 2006.
Elizabeth Leighton from Existing Homes Alliance Scotland says with new powers coming into play she calls for a review of welfare provision.
Elizabeth Leighton from Existing Homes Alliance Scotland
Ms Leighton says people who additional needs or costs in terms of affordable warmth should be able to see their benefits adjusted.
She says jobs can be created in communities all over Scotland to address the income question.
Ms Leighton says energy supply must be looked at.
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SNP MSP John Mason asks if we should be able to eradicate fuel poverty when the Parliament can never actually achieve it with the devolved powers they have.
Mr Mason says it has no control over energy prices for example.
Norman Kerr, Director, Energy Action Scotland says it would be odd not to have a target because, unless you have one, you have no way of knowing what you are working towards.
He says there are still home in Scotland are F and G energy bands any you would need a "ludicrous amount of money" to heat those homes.
Mr Kerr says there are things that can be done to help fuel poverty that are "within the gift of the Scottish Parliament".
The independent Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force sets out actions to deliver affordable warmth in rural Scotland, external:
Image source, bbcNorman Kerr from Energy Action Scotland
Norman Kerr from Energy Action Scotland says the Scottish government will allocate £500m for the next four years.
Mr Kerr says that is £125m a year which falls well short of the £200m Energy Action Scotland has called for.
He says it is half of what Existing Homes Alliance Scotland says is needed, with their call for £250m.
Mr Kerr says there needs to be significantly more than £150m expected from the government in Thursday's budget.
Image source, EASEAS
Energy Action Scotland (EAS), external campaigns for an end to fuel poverty in Scotland and is the only national charity with this sole remit.
EAS aims to develop and promote effective solutions to the problem of cold, damp and expensive to heat homes.
The website has been designed and developed to allow diverse users the ability to easily source policy, research, press and project materials on the above.
Through the site we will keep you up to date with training, current issues, events and news.
Image source, bbcProfessor David Sigsworth,
Professor David Sigsworth, former Chair of the Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group says the targets set in 2001 were not met so he wants to see different policy implemented.
Prof. Sigsworth says he wants a clear timetable and process responding to both reports published on fuel poverty.
He says fuel poverty eradication must include not just energy efficiency, but also community actions through health care and local authorities.
Prof. Sigsworth says he wants to see budgets rising in fuel poverty and other areas.
He says the disadvantaged must be the priority.
Elizabeth Leighton from Existing Homes Alliance Scotland, says she is wearing two hats today.
Ms Leighton says she is supporting the Existing Homes Alliance Scotland but she was also part of the strategic focus group.
She says government funding is required to raise the energy efficiency of housing stock.
Ms Leighton says in order to achieve this over the 10 year programme, it will cost around £10bn.
She says this year the Existing Homes Alliance Scotland estimates that the budget should be £190m with £60m coming from energy companies bringing a total budget of £250m.
Image source, bbcExisting Homes Alliance
The Existing Homes Alliance Scotland, external is a coalition of housing, environmental, fuel poverty and industry organisations calling for urgent action to transform Scotland’s existing housing stock and make it fit for the 21st century. Too many of Scotland’s homes are in a poor condition meaning unnecessarily high fuel use.
We are calling for an ambitious programme of low-carbon refurbishment of Scotland’s homes, along with incentives, support and regulations aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions and tackling fuel poverty. Such a programme makes environmental, social and economic sense.
We are working with all sectors to develop this programme of radical low-carbon refurbishment and explore the role each sector can play in making it a reality. Please read our declaration and show your support by joining here
Ministers were recently criticised after research indicated fuel poverty levels had more than doubled since 2003.
The government intended to get rid of fuel poverty by 2016.
Image source, bbcCouncils and housing associations will receive a share of £9m to make it easier for tenants to heat their homes.
Housing Minister Kevin Stewart said a further £1m was being made available to provide interest-free loans to help people make their home more energy efficient.
Work is also being carried out to develop Scotland's Energy Efficiency Programme (Seep), with 11 pilot projects being set up to test different ways of saving energy.
Image source, bbcDi Alexander from the Scottish Rural Poverty Taskforce
Mr Lindhurst asks what the witnesses would like to see in the forthcoming budget.
Di Alexander from the Scottish Rural Poverty Taskforce says he would like a priority to be given to vulnerable households and off gas households.
Mr Alexander says the fuel poverty stats are flatlining and the funding must be in place to tackle this.
The Scottish Government set up an independent and broadly-based Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force in August 2015.
Its remit was to produce a report during September 2016, setting out a realistic and practicable set of actions to:
a) make it significantly easier for people living in rural and remote Scotland to keep their homes warm and b) feed into the further development of fuel poverty and energy efficiency programmes.
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Task Force is advocating a carefully considered series of actions that it believes must be delivered if fuel poverty and inequality in rural Scotland are to be tackled more effectively.
Such actions should be treated as priorities by not only the Scottish and UK Governments but by other leading players, including the principal utility companies and the energy regulator Ofgem, with vital partnership support provided at all levels by local authorities and other bodies committed to tackling rural fuel poverty.
Conservative MSP and Economy Committee convener Gordon Lindhurst introduces the witnesses:
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