The Scottish Government's commitment to tackle fuel poverty across the country has been welcomed by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

In its Fuel Poverty statement, the government has committed to ending fuel poverty and enshrining this pledge into law.

Housing Minister Kevin Stewart has also launched a consultation on a new long-term strategy to tackle fuel poverty, which will run until 01 February next year.

SFHA Head of Public Affairs, Sarah Boyack, said the organisation welcomes the government's commitment as well as plans to continue funding fuel poverty schemes.

However, she said the SFHA believe there needs to be a "significant increase" in home energy efficiency investment, "in line with the Scottish Government's commitment to make energy efficiency a National Infrastructure Priority".

"We also believe that minimum energy efficiency standards have to be set for all home tenures – not just for social housing, Ms Boyack said.

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"The proposals come at a time when fuel poverty levels in Scotland – under the current definition – remain unacceptably high at 31%. In rural areas off the gas grid, where energy prices are higher and homes are often hard to treat, fuel poverty levels are also much higher. Addressing fuel poverty in rural Scotland should therefore be a major priority for the new strategy.

"We are disappointed that the Scottish Government does not plan to include an uplift for rural areas in the Minimum Income Standard that will be used in calculating fuel poverty. Research commissioned by SFHA and others found that people living in rural and remote areas require higher incomes, and housing related costs, such as higher energy bills, are a significant contributor to this."

Ms Boyack added the government must not lose sight of the need to increase energy efficiency in the nation's homes in order to insulate against rising energy prices.

"Increasing home energy efficiency has the additional benefits of reducing carbon emissions, in line with the challenging climate change targets, and creating jobs and training in a labour intensive industry," she continued.

"Housing associations have the skills and the groupings of property to lead on home energy efficiency and community renewables projects – they already have the most energy efficient homes by tenure in Scotland.

"Housing associations need funding support to continue this investment and lead progress to an energy efficient low carbon Scotland, where fuel poverty is consigned to the past."

(LM/MH)