Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart (pictured) has today called for a needle-sharp focus on tackling fuel poverty in Shetland after newly published figures published by the Scottish Government showed that nearly one in three households in Shetland are currently living in fuel poverty.
Figures also showed that over one in five households (22%) in Shetland are classed as being in extreme fuel poverty.
This figure is joint second worst across the whole of Scotland.
It was also revealed that Shetland has over three times the national average of homes which are deemed to be of the least energy efficient dwellings.
Commenting Ms Wishart said:
“Warm words don’t heat homes and the Scottish Government is still to make a serious dent in fuel poverty rates in Scotland.
“On top of all this the Government still has its delayed strategy on tackling fuel poverty on ice.
“We cannot let this delay be used as an excuse to delay targeted funding for remote rural areas, where this problem is blatant and persistent.
“A serious new national insulation programme would be a good first step to tackling fuel poverty, reducing emissions and would create thousands of much-needed new green jobs.
“We also need catch-up zones, so investment is focused on where it would make the biggest difference.
“As we recover from the pandemic it is vital that fuel poverty is given a needle-sharp focus so people in Shetland are not choosing between a warm home or a warm meal.”
