MP calls upon Council to help Scottish Government heat elderly
Tuesday 19th February 2008
Local MP, Des Browne is calling upon East Ayrshire Council to help bail out the Scottish Executive with the massive backlog of installations in its free central heating programme.
The programme was set up in 2001. However, in recent months the backlog of cases across Scotland has now reached 11,000 and the waiting list time has reached 229 days. That figure is more than double the 114 days at the time of the Scottish Parliamentary election when the new SNP administration took over control of the programme.
One couple affected by the delay are Thomas and Margaret Gallacher of Kilmarnock. When the couple applied last year they were informed that it would take 8 months for their new system to be installed. However despite the couple applying in October 2007 Scottish Gas are still unable to provide an installation date.
Mrs Gallacher said:
“It is annoying that it is taking so long for us to get our new system installed. We have been made to suffer throughout the winter without heating and my husband and I have been reliant on a small heater to keep us warm. I am not looking forward to my electricity bills. Quite frankly I think it is shocking that pensioners can be treated this way by the Scottish Government in this day in age.”
The Scottish Executive has written to all local authorities to ask if they can assist in reducing the lengthy waiting list. Some councils including Stirling and South Lanarkshire have offered to help and local MP Des Browne reckons if it can, East Ayrshire Council should do so also.
Des said:
“It is frightening that couples like the Gallachers have had to endure this cold winter without central heating. I have written to East Ayrshire Council today, asking that if it has the capacity like South Lanarkshire to bail the Scottish Executive out and heat older people’s home it should do so.”
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