PRESS RELEASE
March 30th, 2010

The big freeze

Greenock and Inverclyde MSP Duncan McNeil has accused the Scottish Government in Edinburgh of selling pensioners short.

Despite having just suffered one of the coldest winters on record, less than half of the budget for providing help for pensioners and disabled people with central heating systems has been spent.

In Inverclyde, just 88 people received a new central heating system in the current financial year from more than 800 applications.

Nine out of 10 people, mostly pensioners, have been told they are not eligible despite the Scottish Government having more than £25 million left in their budget.

Duncan McNeil MSP said: “The old heating programme was open to all pensioners and provided more than 100,000 homes across Scotland with a brand new central heating system.

“The changes to the programme since 2007 have shut out hundreds of pensioners despite Inverclyde suffering one of the worst winters in years.
 
“Local pensioners are being let down and the Scottish Government must fix the system so that this help goes to those who need it.”
 
ENDS