LABOUR has called on Scotland’s SNP government to reverse its scrapping of the fuel insecurity fund.

Last winter, £30 million was spent from the pot through third sector organisations and councils to support the most vulnerable with energy costs.

However, in this year’s Scottish budget, no money has been allocated to the fund. 

Now, in the wake of his own party’s decision to means-test winter fuel payments — effectively removing between £200 and £300 from over 10 million pensioners, 900,000 of them in Scotland —Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has called for the fund’s restoration.

Mr Sarwar argues that £41m in “Barnett consequentials,” allocated to the Scottish government from the British Labour government’s extension of its own Household Support Fund, could be used as before. 

Alternatively, £200 could be given to 200,000 low-income pensioner households in Scotland, who are now losing out on winter fuel payments for being ineligible for the pension credit, Mr Sarwar adds.

He said: “The months ahead will be difficult for many people across the country — that’s why Scottish Labour stands ready to propose a package of measures to support Scots over the winter.

“Under our plans, low-income pensioners currently ineligible for Pension Credit could receive support and the SNP’s axing of the winter insecurity fund could be reversed.

“Instead of focusing on what it can’t do rather than what it can do, the Scottish government could work with Scottish Labour to make sure this package is delivered to support Scots.

“Scottish Labour is ready to work with the Scottish government to deliver on these options and offer a lifeline to thousands of Scots.”

The Scottish government was contacted for comment.