SNP MSP for Glasgow Region Bob Doris hit out at James Kelly MSP and the Labour Party for "conducting a fundamentally dishonest and outrageous campaign of misinformation" on Scotland's new Energy Assistance Package and related central heating installations .

Mr Doris slammed James Kelly's assertion that 'In our area just 263 applicants from a total of 2,384 were successful with their application for a new central heating system' as "a dodgy dossier".

Commenting further on the Labour gaff Mr Doris said: "Labour are using figures for calls to the Scottish Government's ground breaking Energy Assistance Package helpline as being the same as applying for a free central heating system. This is a plain wrong, a total abuse of statistics and is yet another Labour dodgy dossier.  If James Kelly does not understand the distinction between calling a helpline and applying for a central heating system it is rather embarrassing for him.

"I am surprised Labour want to compare central heating installations under the old Labour Scottish Executive and the current SNP Scottish Government. The SNP record is far better. The Scottish Government are installing far more systems

than Labour. In both 2007/8 and 2008/9 the Scottish Government installed more systems than in any single year under Labour. That has meant installing or upgrading 33,937 heating systems in private housing. In 2008-2009, waiting lists for central heating systems actually fell by more than 40 per cent. If we look specifically at South Lanarkshire statistics we find that South Lanarkshire has had around 6% of all Scottish central heating installations which considering South Lanarkshire has 6% of the Scottish population is actually about right.

"The SNP Government's Energy Assistance package is therefore delivering record installations but also offers far more than it ever did under Labour. The SNP extended the central heating scheme to include those in inefficient homes with children under 5 or disabled children under 16.

We are also extending this further to households on certain benefits with children under 16, and to people with certain long term conditions.

"The Energy Assistance Package also offers a range of additional support such as benefits checks for those calling to ensure they get all the money they are entitled to, and it also works with energy suppliers to get a cheaper, lower tariff for those categorised as fuel poor. This has led to nearly 10,000 people  saving £1.6m thanks to the benefits checks an increase in pensioner income by on average £26 a week and families with children have been helped to claim an extra £42 a week on average.

"I would like to thank Mr Kelly for drawing attention to a Scottish Government success. I am not surprised he does not want to mention the UK Labour record in London".

Notes:

1. Table 1.1 shows Council population. 

2. Link shows installations by Local Authority area

3. Scottish Government release on benefits checks from EAP