Local SNP MSP for the Linlithgow Constituency, Fiona Hyslop, has demanded urgent action from the UK Government to financially support people with spiralling energy costs.
Fiona has called on the UK Government to scrap the upcoming increase to the energy cap, double the energy grant to £800 and ensure all payments are made by the beginning of October, introduce an energy price cap for Small and Medium Enterprises and bring in a further windfall tax and extend it to include all large businesses who made significant profits during the pandemic.
A recent study found that 72.8% of those living in Scotland will fall into fuel poverty by January 2023 without further action from the UK government.
The SNP Scottish Government is using its limited powers to extend eligibility for and increase the Scottish Child Payment, carry out an emergency budget review to identify any further opportunities to redirect additional resources to those most in need, and is looking at what options are available to devolved government for regulatory action to limit increases in costs for households and businesses.
Commenting Fiona said:
“The UK Government must act immediately and take urgent action to address spiralling energy costs. People across my Linlithgow Constituency cannot wait until the Tories have decided who their next leader will be, they need action now.
“Any action taken by the UK Government must include scrapping the energy price cap, doubling the energy grant, bringing in an energy price cap for businesses and implementing another, broader windfall tax.
“While the SNP Scottish Government is doing what it can with its limited powers to help people in Scotland through the Tory-made cost-of-living crisis, including spending £700m mitigating the bedroom tax and benefit cap, it is the UK government that has the powers that will make the most difference.
“I am urging Tory Ministers to use the powers reserved to them and take responsibility for this crisis. They must act now to avoid more people being pushed into, or further into, poverty.
“For as long as the UK Government fails to act on this crisis, Scotland’s need for Independence, and the powers required to support households and businesses across Scotland grows.”
ENDS
Notes for editors:
Two-thirds of UK families could be in fuel poverty by January, research finds – The Guardian