NEWS RELEASE – Greens back moves on insulation and boiler scrappage

Greens welcomed today’s concessions by SNP Ministers over a boiler scrappage scheme for Scotland and the start of a new home insulation programme. The party has pressed Ministers to improve coordination between the various funds already available, including funding to replace old and inefficient boilers, and to offer free loft and cavity wall insulation as part of a new area-based home energy programme.

The Cabinet Secretary has today responded positively to these Green proposals and announced £12m of new money for these programmes. With these changes, plus the £10m the Greens secured for investment in marine energy development during Stage One of the Budget process, the party believes enough improvements have been made to the draft Budget for the Green MSPs to vote in support of the Budget at 5pm today.

This year’s Budget will now contain £54.3m of spending changes made following representations made to Ministers by the Green MSPs, including £9.3m towards the continued operation of the Climate Challenge Fund. (1)

Patrick Harvie MSP said:

“Householders across Scotland have faced another cold winter and rising energy costs. Too many people live in draughty and expensive accommodation, and too many rely on inefficient and out-dated central heating schemes. Last year we argued Ministers needed to strip out the bureaucracy and make loft and cavity insulation free for everyone. This year we urged them to go beyond that and adopt a boiler scrappage scheme: the same approach as the car scrappage scheme, but designed to help people to bring down their energy bills and reduce their emissions.

“We’re very pleased to have persuaded the Scottish Government to do the right thing on all these issues, even if the pace of work will still be too slow. Alongside the £10m investment in wave and tidal power we secured two weeks ago, we are satisfied that this Budget is now worth supporting, despite our remaining reservations over transport and energy issues. Ministers have serious questions to answer on economic and environmental issues, and as future Budgets get tighter these decisions will not get any easier. The priority will be to find imaginative ways to build a successful low carbon economy, identifying measures that promote jobs while also cutting bills and reducing emissions. Today we have made a small but significant step in that direction.”

Greens will also vote against Labour’s amendment on the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, which contains no proposals on how the project could be funded. Patrick Harvie MSP added:

“The Glasgow Airport Rail Link has never been a top priority for the Greens, and Crossrail would have far wider benefits for rail commuters without the risk of fuelling aviation growth, but nor would it have been the first project we would have cancelled. If Labour are serious about finding the funding for it there is one very obvious way of doing so – scrapping, or at least postponing, the additional Forth Road Bridge.

“It’s absurd that both Labour and the SNP seem determined to push ahead with one vast multi-billion pound project at the very time we’re facing cuts, before we even know if it’s needed. The engineering report on the existing bridge will be available next year. Let’s wait till then, and make the decision in full possession of the facts. Otherwise I’m quite sure that GARL won’t be the last project which is squeezed out – in fact we may see several more public transport projects shelved over the next three or four years.”

Notes

1. This figure comprises funding for the following schemes:
£21m – insulation measures introduced last year (note: this remains means-tested)
£10m – additional free insulation measures agreed this year
£10m – a revived Wave And Tidal Energy Scheme agreed this year
£9.3m – continued funding for the Climate Challenge Fund
£4m – loans and boiler scrappage scheme
£54.3m – total