The Draft Scottish Budget 2021-22 was published on January 28 and included £145.6m for energy efficiency and fuel poverty. This was significantly short of the £244m the EHA argues is needed. 

EHA chair Lori McElroy said: “We are delighted that the Scottish Government has recognised this with an additional £45m for heat decarbonisation, energy efficiency and fuel poverty announced by Kate Forbes, Cabinet Secretary for Finance last month, plus a further £10m for energy efficiency announced as a result of negotiations with the Scottish Greens. This means that we are now getting close to what we believe is needed.

“By building on our strong delivery mechanisms, scaling up programmes like Warmer Homes Scotland and Area Based Schemes, we can deliver the scale of transformation needed to make rapid progress towards meeting climate change and fuel poverty targets.”

Lori McElroy added: “The Draft Heat in Buildings Strategy published last month set out the ambitious target to transform one million Scottish homes in the next decade.  That can only be achieved if there is funding to match the ambition and we are now getting close to that position.”