SCOTLAND SECRETARY'S ''EXTRAORDINARY COMPLACENCY'' ON PENSIONER FUEL POVERTY

Mike Weir MP, SNP Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions, has accused Scotland Secretary Douglas Alexander of "extraordinary complacency" concerning the problems pensioners face by rocketing fuel bills.

Mr Weir raised the matter in Scottish Questions and asked the Minister:

"Has he had the opportunity to discuss with them the findings of the Energy Action report  "Are Fuel Poverty Targets Out of Range?" which notes that, mainly due to rocketing energy prices, fuel poverty levels in Scotland are worrying close  to where they were in 1996.

"Has he pressed the Treasury and DWP to end the scandal that in energy rich Scotland pensioners are worried about fuel bills and to increase the winter fuel allowance which is nowhere near sufficient to meet our pensioners escalating energy costs?"

Commenting on the Minister's response, in which he simply said the matter was kept under review, Mr Weir said

"The Minister displays extraordinary complacency in the face of the dreadful rises in fuel costs faced by Scotland's pensioners.

"The basic Winter Fuel Allowance has not risen since 2000 and that for the over-80's hasn't risen since 2003 - its value is falling. The most recent price increase from Scottish Power alone put up the average bill by £130, which puts the value of the £200 winter fuel allowance in perspective, and that was the third rise in one year.

"Scotland's pensioners need action now to tackle the scourge of fuel poverty.  The minister displays no understanding of the worry that is being caused across Scotland by the relentless rise in energy prices."