Could not be more wrong
Cllr Ian Scott’s recent ‘Bare faced cheek’ assertion could not be more wrong.
The Labour party has put forward a plan to tackle the cost of living in Scotland which would save families £2.6 billion. It would see a freeze on gas and electricity prices immediately which would mean no rise in household energy bills until April 2023 at the earliest.
By freezing this price cap it would save millions from being plunged into fuel poverty. Much of our area is off the gas grid, with no access to mains gas.
Under Labour’s plan we would extend the same level of support to these households using oil, gas and alternative forms of fuel for heating. These plans would be paid by a tax on record oil and gas profits.
We also need to insulate homes. I have asked the Scottish Government repeatedly to help with these costs, especially for people who qualify for boiler replacement.
Currently the Scottish Government will only install heat pumps rather than oil or gas boilers. This is useless without insulation – I will continue to push for them to do this and ensure that we have an adequate supply of contractors that can do this work locally.
The Scottish Labour Party has also called for an emergency cost of living act in Scotland to freeze rents, cut the cost of commuting and support businesses.
All things that the Scottish Government has the power and responsibility to do. Yet to date we have heard nothing.
There are opportunities now to invest in renewables, to get it going and for the Scottish Government to put the money that they have into clever investment for future energy security.
I spent my summer travelling all over the Highlands and Islands, meeting with many different groups and heard about incredible projects. The development of harbours to service offshore wind has the potential not to only invest in greener and cleaner energy but job growth and development. We need a plan for energy security and sustainability.
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Under Labour’s proposals we would invest in sustainable energy, harnessing marine power potential.
There is no time like the present to push this subject high on the agenda. It will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to get it right for the future and security of our nation and our governments have a moral duty to act. Such projects like these require our SNP Scottish Government to find a way to work with our UK counterparts to ensure investment in this sector is achieved.
Here in Scotland our government could be doing so much more to assist the people of Scotland. As we return to parliament, I will be pushing for answers and assistance for everyone.
Rhoda Grant
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP
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