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Alex Neil MSP has called on the UK Government to increase cold weather payments in a letter outlining the need for a rise for vulnerable households in Scotland. Mr Neil, the Scottish Government Minister for Housing & Communities, has said that payments are uniform across the UK but heating costs are higher in Scotland. Severe wind chill means that households in Scotland are exposed to temperatures below those recorded by their nearest weather station – the system used to trigger weekly cold weather payments of £25.00 when temperatures fall below zero. But the Scottish House Condition Survey shows that 65 per cent more fuel is used to heat a semi with gas central heating in Braemar than in Bristol. Mr Neil says that an increase in cold weather payment, and it starting to take account of wind chill, would significantly benefit pensioners and other vulnerable residents in Lanarkshire: “At the moment the cold weather payments system can best be described as a postcode lottery. “I have written to the UK Government asking that they increase cold weather payments here in Scotland so that wind chill factor and the higher energy costs here are taken into consideration. “Taking wind chill into account is not simply a technical issue. It is a fundamental to ensuring payments are calculated fairly. “An increase in the cold weather payment would directly benefit a great many pensioners and vulnerable households here in Lanarkshire who have struggled to keep warm this winter. “This winter has seen the coldest weather in decades and as Scotland braces itself for more snowfall and freezing conditions, I will continue to make the case for change. “I'd also encourage struggling households to call Scotland's £60 million Energy Assistance Package on 0800 512 012 for a range of help to bring down heating bills including insulation, heating systems, benefit checks, cheaper energy tariffs and energy savings advice.” |
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