THE Scottish government must make tackling fuel poverty “a greater priority,” its own advisory panel said today.

Ministers set up the Scottish Fuel Advisory Panel to independently monitor progress after Holyrood passed the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act in 2019.

In its response to the SNP government’s Tackling Fuel Poverty in Scotland periodic report 2021-24, the panel points out that since the Act came into force, the proportion of households in fuel poverty has actually increased — from 24.6 per cent in 2019 to 34 per cent in 2023.

“Given the current levels of fuel poverty, in the panel’s opinion tackling fuel poverty should be a greater priority now than it was when the Act was passed by the Scottish Parliament,” the advisory body said.

“In comparison to other policy areas with statutory targets — child poverty and climate change — the panel believes that fuel poverty has not seen the required level of strategic prioritisation.”

SNP Housing Secretary Mairi McAllan said she would “consider its recommendations as we work together towards achieving our fuel poverty targets,” adding: “Our commitment to tackling fuel poverty is unwavering and we are doing all we can within our powers to support households.

“However, it is clear that high energy prices must be addressed and the fundamental fiscal and policy levers to make a real difference lie with the UK government. 

“If fuel prices had remained at 2019 levels, the efforts we are making in Scotland would have seen a decrease of around 389,000 households in fuel poverty.

“This is why we continue to press the UK government to urgently deliver an automatic and targeted discount on energy bills to address unaffordable bills at source.”