The Scottish Government has been urged to "engage faster and better across the energy efficiency landscape" as Energy Action Scotland address fuel poverty as "winter hits hard".

Highlighting news that arctic winds are on their way bringing freezing temperatures and gales to the whole country, Energy Action Scotland (EAS) will gather together policy makers, support services, industry and energy companies to look at the work being done to alleviate the high levels of fuel poverty currently suffered by a quarter of households in Scotland.

EAS is calling upon the Scottish Government to engage faster and better across the energy efficiency landscape to ensure they meet the target of no more than 5% of households living in fuel poverty well ahead of their stated target date of 2040.

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With expert speakers from Government, housing and from NHS Scotland, the focus will be on the burden that fuel poverty creates for health and public services as well the human toll of cold, damp housing. Journalists, campaigners and fuel poverty organisations from Scotland, England and Northern Ireland will share their thoughts and experiences as we consider the cost of failure for the six people in Scotland who die every day of winter because of fuel poverty.

The Golden Jubilee Conference Centre in Clydebank will host the conference as well as the inaugural Energy Action Scotland Fuel Poverty Awards for 2019. Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning, Kevin Stewart will share his vision for ending fuel poverty as we examine the true cost of living in Scotland and being unable to afford energy for heat, light and for cooking.

Norman Kerr, Director of Energy Action Scotland said: "It is inconceivable that Scotland be allowed to miss another target for the eradication of fuel poverty. For those people who live in and are at risk of fuel poverty the pace of change must increase with more and better options found to tackle challenging housing as well as homes off the gas grid. As an organisation our sole focus is the eradication of fuel poverty and with over 150 years of expertise across our team we will make sure that progress continues until fuel poverty is consigned to history."

(MH/CM)