ENERGY Action Scotland (EAS), a charity which campaigns to end fuel poverty, has called upon the Scottish Government to provide greater support for vulnerable Scots this winter.

Frazer Scott, chief executive of EAS said: "Household energy debt is spiralling, winter is now upon us, one in three households still can't afford their energy bills. Financial support from Governments has largely dried up, leaving people in cold, damp homes. It isn't right and it isn't fair.

"Charities across Scotland tell us that crisis support and intensive support is vital to mitigate the worst, to save lives and help families. That's why we are calling on the Scottish Government to reinstate its Fuel Insecurity Fund this winter and throughout next year."

In a letter to First Minister John Swinney, EAS and other Scottish charities argue that next month’s Scottish budget should include additional funding for the Scottish Fuel Insecurity Fund (SFIF).

The SFIF supports a range of households who struggle to afford basic levels of energy or cope with mounting energy debts through local trusted advice organisations.

SFIF funding would enable Scotland’s advice community to support the tens of thousands of families who will be contacting them over the coming winter because they are struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and rising energy costs.

Around 900,000 older people have lost out after the UK and Scottish governments’ decisions to make the winter fuel payment and pension age winter heating payments a means tested benefit.

Many of these older households are still not in receipt of pension credit or are living with very low household incomes.

Thousands of people are struggling to pay their electricity and gas bills after the 10% increase in fuel costs for the average household and the loss of cost-of-living payments for low income and disabled households which were available in 2023/24.

Last year’s Scottish budget included a decision to cut £30 million from the SFIF.

That fund previously saw £8.5m allocated to the Fuel Bank Foundation to support 85,000 households with energy top-up vouchers; £9m to Advice Direct Scotland to administer home heating support grants; and £7.25m to the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations to provide 55,000 households with advice and support.

The loss of this support has had a significant impact on advice agencies and their ability to provide support to clients.

There is increased demand on agencies to provide advice to households who can’t pay their bills and are self-disconnecting because they are on prepayment meters.

Agencies will soon have to endure an increase in their costs as a result of the UK Government’s decision to increase employers’ national insurance, which will result in a loss of resources at a time when demand remains high.

The situation has been made worse as Scots have seen no benefit from the £82m the Scottish Government received from the UK Government in this financial year because of the extension to the Household Support Fund for England, with no similar scheme operating in Scotland.

Scotland is colder than the rest of the UK. Without funding to the SFIF, vulnerable Scottish households will have less energy support than the rest of the UK.

There is no cogent reason for this, given Barnett consequential funds provided to the Scottish Government.