The Scottish Government's Central Heating Programme has delivered a record 14,377 central heating systems in 2007-08, according to new figures.

Communities Minister, Stewart Maxwell said that Scottish Gas delivered 14,205 and local authorities delivered a further 172 systems, in total the highest number ever delivered to private homes by the programme.

Additional funding during the year helped to reduce the waiting list from around 11,300 in November to 9,300 by the end of March. Over the same period the number of households waiting more than nine months has reduced from more than 1,350 to 800.

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In addition, under the Warm Deal Programme, insulation measures have been installed in 5,259 households.

Mr Maxwell said: "As these record figures for central heating installations illustrate, we've made the schemes inherited from the previous administration work as well as they can.

"This Government invested additional resources in the Central Heating and Warm Deal programmes, and as a result we have delivered the highest recorded number of systems installed in private homes.

"Upwards of 2,000 more households have benefited from the extra investment and waiting times have been cut, particularly for those waiting longest."

£45 million per annum is allocated for fuel poverty programmes over 2008-2011.

(GK/JM)