Emergency Heating Oil Support Scheme Needs Extended

The emergency heating oil support scheme should be extended into the winter as islanders face rising fuel costs.

I have called on the Scottish and UK governments to change the eligibility for the scheme which has had little take-up since being introduced in March.

With heating oil at £1.24 a litre locally, almost double the cost before the US attacks on Iran began, it is time for a swift review and extension of the scheme.

The Scottish Emergency Heating Oil scheme is due to close on September 30th but at the last count less than a tenth of the £10 million scheme had been distributed and two-thirds of the applicants from the Western Isles had been refused support.

We need to extend the scheme and make sure everyone in need is included.

Support of £300 per household is available to applicants in receipt of income support or pension credit with those who have already been successful in applying currently being offered a second £300 credit with their local supplier.

Advice Direct Scotland which runs the fund on behalf of the Scottish Government have stated that help is available to anyone on a means-tested benefit or people "in financial hardship" who "have additional vulnerabilities.

However, I have heard from applicants who have been turned down because of the criteria, one of which is evidence of debt or being overdrawn.

Many islanders have an aversion to living on credit and simply turn the heating off in their homes rather than go into debt. We have some of the highest levels of fuel poverty in the country, over 50 per cent of houses rely on heating oil and we have some of the highest prices. We need to think again about the criteria for help.

I have written to the Scottish Energy Minister Stephen Gethins requesting an update and calling for eligibility for the scheme to be widened and extended into the winter.

In my letter I stated: “I urge you to take action to both extend the scheme beyond the September deadline and to widen the eligibility criteria to reflect the already high premium islanders pay for heating oil deliveries and the high levels of fuel poverty in Na h-Eileanan an Iar.”

I have also written to the UK Treasury calling on chancellor John Healey to continue the £50 million UK scheme in the budget due on October 28th.