Thousands of Fife households in fuel poverty

The number of people in fuel poverty is proportionally higher in Fife compared to the rest of Scotland. Only Glasgow and Edinburgh had more households in fuel poverty.

There has been an increase in the number of Fife families in fuel poverty from 4000 to 7000.

“Being able to live in warm home is a basic standard of living that everyone should be able to enjoy,” said North East Fife MP Wendy Chamberlain.

“Sadly, thousands of people in Fife cannot afford to heat their property and are forced to make choices between heating and eating. It is very concerning that the number of families in fuel poverty is increasing, and with a high proportion in social housing it seems likely that the disaster of Universal Credit is to blame for this.

“The UK Government should be ashamed that our welfare system is failing to keep people out of poverty. It is obvious that the Conservative Government strive to spend as little as possible on welfare because of political ideology rather than addressing the level of demand. Universal Credit needs urgent reform so we can reverse the trend and lift people out of fuel poverty.”

North East Fife MSP Willie Rennie added: “It is scandalous that thousands of people in Fife are left cold in their own homes because they cannot afford to put the heating on.

“This is not a luxury, it is basic standard of living that everyone in a country as wealthy as Scotland should be able to expect. The mismanagement of Universal Credit appears to be making the situation worse.

“It is mindboggling how the UK Government continue to deny this and won’t accept it is just not working. They need to address the inadequacies of their welfare system.

“Scotland is about to take charge of 11 benefits, so the Scottish Government should take heed of these worrying statistics and make sure that we are doing all we can to keep folk out of fuel poverty.”