(UKPA) – 1 hour ago

Up to 7,000 carers could see their heating bills fall after the Scottish Government announced it was expanding a special scheme.

Infrastructure and Capital Investment Secretary Alex Neil revealed the energy assistance package was being expanded to those people looking after family and friends who receive the carers’ allowance.

Under the scheme, they could have a new heater or boiler installed free of charge or have their home insulation improved at no cost to themselves.

Mr Neil said: “We recognise the enormous pressures being placed on family budgets as a result of ever increasing fuel costs.

“As we head into winter, more and more people will find it a challenge to adequately heat their homes.

“By extending our energy assistance package to include people receiving carers’ allowance, we can go some way to helping around 7,000 carers reduce their heating bills and encourage greater efficiency of energy used at home.

“For carers, in particular, they can be called on to support family and friends 24/7, so it is vitally important that they are eligible for the right assistance and avoid falling into fuel poverty.”

Since the launch of the energy assistance package in 2009, more than 200,000 people have received advice on improving energy efficiency while 21,000 households have had help such as the installation of a new heating system or boiler.

Norman Kerr, director of fuel poverty charity Energy Action Scotland, welcomed the extension of the scheme to carers.

He added: “It is important to expand the eligibility of the energy assistance package to ensure that as many vulnerable groups as possible can benefit from the scheme.”

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