The latest national statistic published have revealed that fuel poverty in Scotland fell between 2011 and 2012.

However, 27.1% of households are still thought to be "fuel poor".

The Scottish House Condition Survey found that in mid-2012, around 74,000 fewer households – around a 3.4% fall – were in fuel poverty than in October 2011. Improved energy efficiency contributed to two-thirds of the fall, with an increase in household income contributing one third.

Between 2009/10 and 2012/13 the Scottish Government invested £220m on fuel poverty and energy efficiency measures, while an additional £250m will be spent on further initiatives between the 2013/14 to 2015/16 period.

However, concerns were raised over proposed Westminster cuts to energy efficiency and fuel poverty programmes which could jeopardise further improvements and see the most vulnerable in society being hit the hardest. From the findings, the households most likely to be in fuel poverty in 2012 were pensioners and single working age adults; while rural dwellings which are not on the gas grid are more likely to be associated with fuel poverty.

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Commenting on the figures, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, said: "While today's figures show a reduction in the number of households living in fuel poverty in 2012, it is an absolute scandal that people are still struggling with this issue in a country as energy rich as Scotland.

"We are doing everything we can within our limited powers to provide a wide range of energy efficiency measures to individual households and to local authorities. But we need the full powers of independence to fully tackle all the causes of fuel poverty.

"As well committing to invest at least £200 million a year in measures to tackle fuel poverty, in Scotland's Future we set out how 'green levies' being funded by Government rather than energy companies would reduce energy bills by around 5 per cent – or around £70 - every year.

"This is a fairer way of paying for energy efficiency measures than through people's energy bills and would enable us to design a new means of funding, delivering energy efficiency improvements to Scottish homes that are fairer and better suited to our needs.

"In contrast, changes to the UK Government's Energy Company Obligation (ECO) – announced during the Chancellor's Autumn Statement last week – will significantly reduce resources, cutting expenditure in Scotland for energy efficiency saving and fuel poverty measures and will put further improvements in serious danger."

(JP/IT)