Ahead of the last full term of the Scottish Parliament before the statutory duty to end fuel poverty in 2016 must be met, the national charity Energy Action Scotland is calling for a detailed and well-resourced route map from government as to how it will be achieved.

Opening a major conference in Glasgow, Energy Action Scotland Director, Norman Kerr said: "It is essential that in all the plans for tackling climate change and securing energy supplies, the focus is first and foremost on helping the most vulnerable people who are cold in their homes.

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"Too many people in Scotland still fear the onset of winter and the perennial struggle to pay for domestic fuel bills.

"Government at all levels needs to set out how the target to end fuel poverty will be met and to make available the funding to support households that cannot afford to make their homes more energy efficient."

The conference also heard from officials from the Scottish Government, the UK Government Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Energy Retail Association and the Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform.

A panel of MSPs from the main parties took questions on their plans for eradicating fuel poverty from an audience representing all sectors.

(CD/KMcA)