Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019
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| Long title | An Act of the Scottish Parliament to set targets relating to the eradication of fuel poverty; to define fuel poverty; to require the production of a fuel poverty strategy; and to make provision about reporting on fuel poverty. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 2019 asp 10 |
| Introduced by | Kevin Stewart MSP, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Planning |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 18 July 2019 |
Status: Current legislation | |
The Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019 is an act of the Scottish Parliament with the goal of reducing fuel poverty in Scotland.
Background
The existing definition and target had last been set in 2002.[1] The existing target had been to have fewer than 5% of households living in fuel poverty by 2016.[1] The existing definition had been that a household is in fuel poverty if more than 10% of its income is spent on heating.[2]
In 2016, Scottish Labour called for a new fuel poverty target.[3] In 2016, Scottish Fuel Poverty Strategic Working Group and Scottish Rural Fuel Poverty Task Force published recoomendations for a new definition of fuel poverty.[4]
Provisions
The act includes targets to reduce the number of households affected by fuel poverty to 15% by 2030 and 5% by 2040.[5]
The definition of "fuel poverty" in the act is that a household is considered to be in fuel poverty if in order to maintain a satisfactory heating regime, it would have to spend more than 10% of its income on all household fuel use.[6]
Further developments
In 2025, the rate of fuel poverty under the act was 34%.[7]
References
- ^ a b "Views wanted on new legislation to cut fuel poverty". Belfast Telegraph. 16 September 2018. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "Labour urges new target for wiping out fuel poverty after previous one missed". The Herald. 16 November 2016. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "Scottish Labour calls for new fuel poverty target". BBC News. 13 November 2016. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "Call for new 'fuel poverty' definition". BBC News. 24 October 2016. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ "Calls to be bold with Scotland's fuel poverty targets". ITV News. 5 June 2019. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ Eden, Tom (20 February 2019). "Scottish fuel poverty plan that 'lacks ambition' is approved". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
- ^ McCall, Chris (1 April 2025). "Scotland 'going backwards' on fuel poverty as more households struggle to afford heating". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.