Hamilton MSP slams Scottish Government over “delay” of Boiler Scrappage Scheme

Feb 18 2010 by Chris Clements, Hamilton Advertiser

HAMILTON North and Bellshill MSP Michael McMahon slammed the Scottish Government this week over delays to the Boiler Scrappage Scheme.

The initiative offers an incentive for homeowners and landlords to upgrade their boiler with a grant for £400.

It was introduced in England last month, and the SNP Government were given additional funds for its introduction.

However, Labour MSP McMahon attacked the SNP after figures released this week showed that while 54,758 vouchers for the scheme have been snapped up in England, the Scottish figure is zero due a delay to its introduction.

Mr McMahon said: “There was simply no reason to delay the scheme in Scotland and the SNP made a very bad mistake in doing so.

“Figures from other parts of the UK show how popular it is so it was wrong for the SNP to dither about introducing the scheme here.

“The scheme helps householders to save around £200 a year off fuel bills and reduce emissions. Those in Scotland should never have been left out of the scheme in the first place.”

However, a Government spokesman hit back, branding the claims “inaccurate”.

She added: “Our Energy Assistance Package is already helping thousands of Scots to heat their homes more efficiently and affordably.

“Backed by £60million in 2009/10 and recommended by the independent Scottish Fuel Poverty Forum, 33,700 households have taken up help under Energy Assistance Package since April 2009. By end December 5500 new central heating systems have been installed this year along with 3,700 insulation measures.”

She added that it was entirely for the Scottish Government to decide how to spend (money)as part of the budget.

And that any boiler scrappage scheme would complement rather than duplicate the “vast amount of work already going on”.