The Scottish Government has said an additional £20m is to be set aside to reduce fuel poverty, and improve the energy efficiency of homes throughout Scotland.

From the investment, £6m will be used for energy efficiency programmes to support projects such as solid wall, cavity or loft insulation. The remaining £14m will go towards low cost home energy efficiency loans available to households in the private sector. This will supplement current grant schemes to help install energy efficiency measures.

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Overall, the latest funding takes the overall investment by the Scottish Government to tackle fuel poverty to around £300m.

Social Justice Secretary Alex Neil said: "This Government is determined to tackle fuel poverty and improve energy efficiency head on, as this additional £20 million investment for energy efficiency measures demonstrates.

"Fuel costs have risen six times faster than incomes since 2003. In 2013, fuel prices rose by seven per cent, pushing more people into fuel poverty. The fact that this is happening in an energy-rich country is outrageous."

He added: "This additional funding means we have allocated over half a billion pounds since 2009 to make Scotland's homes more energy efficient.

"Over 700,000 households have benefited from measures like new boilers or insulation targeted in particular at those in or at risk of fuel poverty."

(JP/IT)