22 MARCH 2010
IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SNP FURTHER DELAY BOILER SCRAPPAGE SCHEME

The SNP Government has indicated that it will further delay the introduction of the boiler scrappage scheme by stating in a written answer to Elaine Murray MSP that it will not be available until “late spring”.

The scheme was announced last year by the UK Government and began in England in January and provides £400 towards the cost of a new A-rated boiler when scrapping an old G-rated one. The scheme has been extremely popular with hundreds of thousands of people in England already made enquires, over 100,000 payments made and 35,000 boilers installed.

The SNP Government received £2m from the UK Government as a Barnett Consequential to introduce the scheme in Scotland, however the SNP held off confirming they would do so until February. They have yet to announce an implementation date and appear to have pushed the start of the scheme back to “late” spring.

Elaine Murray MSP said: “This continued delay in unacceptable. The SNP was given the money by the UK Government months ago but have shamefully been sitting on their hands.

“I am concerned that the fact the SNP are now saying it won’t start until “’late’ spring means it has been pushed back again. Why is it taking so long?

“The scheme has been operating in England since the start of the year, with tens of thousands of people already benefiting from a new boiler. A more efficient boiler means home owners keep their house warmer, reduce emissions and save around £200 a year on bills.

“This scheme has been enormously popular elsewhere in the UK but Scots are missing out as the SNP continue to withhold the cash. A new boiler would have made the extremely cold winter we’ve experienced more bearable for people across the country. Whether the delay was an attempt by the SNP to play petty politics or simply due to their dithering ineptitude, allowing Scots to shiver in the cold while people in England get new boilers is utterly reprehensible.

“It makes no sense that the SNP are going to let winter come and go and are waiting until almost summer before allowing Scots to access this scheme. The SNP are letting us down by refusing to act.

“This money was given to the SNP to allow them to operate a boiler scrappage scheme. It’s selfish and unfair for the SNP to hoard this money away and deny Scots the new boilers available down the road in England. “

ENDS

CONTACT – ANDREW MACKENZIE 07769206856

NOTES TO EDITOR

1. The Boiler Scrappage Scheme began in England on 5 January 2010.

As at 16th March, 118,785 vouchers had been allocated and 35,390 boilers have been installed.

2. In a written answer on 18 January Jim Mather said the boiler scrappage scheme would be introduced in “spring.” However in his 9 March written answer to Elaine Murray this had slipped to “late spring”.

S3W-30390 - Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab) (Date Lodged Tuesday, January 05, 2010): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to introduce a boiler scrappage scheme, similar to that in England.

Answered by Jim Mather (Monday, January 18, 2010): The Scottish Government''s recent consultation on an Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland, which closed on 5 January 2010, welcomed views on any energy saving scheme, including potential incentives to replace inefficient boilers. We will now analyse responses to the consultation and develop the final action plan, which will be published in the spring.

Our £2 million Energy Saving Scotland Home Loans pathfinder initiative is already providing interest-free loans to help Scottish householders upgrade to a more energy efficient boiler. We are also providing free or discounted boilers to thousands of households through the Energy Assistance Package, aimed at tackling the causes of fuel poverty and backed by £60 million this financial year. 

S3W-31666 - Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date its central heating boiler scrappage scheme will (a) open for applications and (b) make its first awards.

Answered by Jim Mather (9 March 2010): In his Budget Bill speech of 3 February 2010, John Swinney announced £2m in 2010-11 for a Scottish boiler scrappage scheme. This will support the forthcoming Energy Efficiency Action Plan for Scotland, which will be published in late spring.

Exact details of the scheme, including launch date, delivery mechanism, level of incentive, and number of households the scheme will support are now being developed and will be announced in due course.

The Scottish Government is already helping householders upgrade to a more energy efficient boiler through the £2 million Energy Saving Scotland Home Loans pathfinder initiative and through the £60m Energy Assistance Package, aimed at tackling the causes of fuel poverty.