Scottish Government statistics have shown that there was over 28,000 successful applications from Scottish households to the new Energy Assistance Package in 2009. (from April 2009 up until end November 2009).

Mr Doris an SNP MSP for Glasgow and member of the Local Government and Communities Committee which has as part of its remit fuel poverty was particularly pleased to see almost 2,200 successful applications for the Energy Assistance Package within Glasgow.

Commenting on these figures which came to light following a parliamentary question Mr Doris said: "The Energy Assistance Package was groundbreaking when it was launched in early 2009 and now we are starting to see real results.

The Package was brought in by the Scottish Government following recommendations from the Fuel Poverty Forum and brought together a number of supports for Scottish households for the first time.

These figures mean not just new Central Heating systems for many pensioners and parents with disabled children, but also advice on energy saving measures, social tariffs for the fuel poor as well as advice on benefits.

Now nearly 2,200 Glasgow households and over 28,000 across Scotland are seeing the benefits and that's only for 8 months not a full year.

Given the current sub zero temperatures gripping Scotland I am sure everyone will welcome the success of the Energy Assistance Package."

Note:

Parliamentary Answer below.

Fuel Poverty
Liam McArthur (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many households have received support from the Energy Assistance Package in 2009-10, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

(S3W-29731) Alex Neil: Statistical Information is not held at constituency level. The following table shows the households helped under the Energy Assistance Package (EAP) to the end of November 2009, analysed by local authority.

The type of support provided includes energy saving advice, assistance with benefits, advice on social tariffs, energy payment methods, insulation measures and installation of heating systems.

Households Helped Under EAP, from April to End November 2009:

• Aberdeen City 679
• Aberdeenshire 1,094
• Angus 815
• Argyll and Bute 583
• Clackmannanshire 243
• Dumfries and Galloway 970
• Dundee City 803
• East Ayrshire 706
• East Dunbartonshire 667
• East Lothian 441
• East Renfrewshire 652
• Edinburgh, City of 2,073
• Eilean Siar 372
• Falkirk 955
• Fife 2,408
• Glasgow City 2,196
• Highland 1,789
• Inverclyde 665
• Midlothian 389
• Moray 497
• North Ayrshire 963
• North Lanarkshire 1,452
• Orkney Islands 174
• Perth and Kinross 883
• Renfrewshire 816
• Scottish Borders 626
• Shetland Islands 50
• South Ayrshire 824
• South Lanarkshire 1,691
• Stirling 639
• West Dunbartonshire 379
• West Lothian 733
• No Value* 15
• All Scotland 28,242

*The address verification process requires a valid post code in order to assign the address to a local authority. Occasionally with new builds the post code is not available