The Scottish Government

Revert to pre-22 May Programmes:

• Free central heating for private sector pensioner households who have none or have a broken system, and replacements of partial and inefficient systems for those who receive the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit or are aged over 80 - using majority of Government funding;
• Warm Deal insulation programme for those on passport benefits by Government and separate funding for Local Authorities; and
• Separate CERT programme of insulation and other measures.

Insufficiently well targeted: many in fuel poverty are not eligible and many of those receiving the programme are not in fuel poverty.

Continue with post-22 May Programmes:

• Central heating for priority groups over 60: those with no central heating, or those with a broken system and either aged over 80 or who receive the Guarantee Element of Pension Credit;
• Warm Deal insulation programme for those on passport benefits by Government and separate funding for Local Authorities; and
• Separate CERT programme of insulation and other measures.

Although an improvement on 'revert' above, this is still insufficiently targeted on fuel poverty. It also lacks synergy with CERT.

Extend current Programmes:

• Central heating for priority groups over 60, plus some sub-set of families on passport benefits. Include renewable heating options where connection to gas not an option; and
• Energy companies take over Warm Deal work from Government under CERT.

This has insufficient synergy with other programmes like CERT.

Redesigned Programme with new approach:

• One coordinated fuel poverty package;
• Holistic approach to help with all aspects of fuel poverty;
• Three checks provided: a benefit and tax credit check to maximise income, a tariff check to minimise the price paid per unit of energy, and an energy efficiency check; and
• Standard energy efficiency measures funded by energy companies under CERT, and enhanced energy efficiency measures funded by Government.

Recommended package.