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Majority of island families suffer fuel poverty    27/2/14

 

Cllr Norman MacLeod, the chairman of the Comhairle’s Local Housing Strategy Working Group, has expressed concern at new figures showing a high level of the fuel poverty in the Outer Hebrides.

 

The initial findings of a recent survey indicates that around 70% of households in the Outer Hebrides were in fuel poverty, having to spend up to 10% of their household income on heating costs.

 

Over a fifth of homes are spending 20% of their household income on heating costs.

 

This contrasts starkly with the Scottish average of 28% in fuel poverty and 8% in extreme fuel poverty

 

The survey sought feedback on various issues relating to home energy use and heating costs, with a view to providing an up to date and accurate figure for how much of a household’s income had to be spent on heating costs.

 

Some 2,500 households responded to the survey which was commissioned by the Comhairle.  

 

Cllr Macleod said: “It is very concerning to hear from the initial analysis that so many households in the area are living in fuel poverty.

 

“It is all the more concerning that these figures are so high despite a considerable amount of investment in insulation and energy efficiency measures in recent years, through schemes such as the Universal Home Insulation Scheme.”

 

Mr Macleod added: “We welcome the financial support the Comhairle has received from the Scottish Government in recent years to address fuel poverty, most recently through the Home Energy Efficiency Programme and hope the Scottish Government will note the findings from this survey as we prepare our submission for funds for 2014/15.”