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UNISON helping to Keep Scotland Warm

By Dave Watson, Senior Regional Officer

Thirty per cent of Scottish households live in fuel poverty and nine in ten homes fall below current energy efficiency standards.

UNISON Scotland argues that these conditions are not acceptable and believe that a comprehensive multi-agency solution is required.

UNISON is also putting its money where its mouth is, and together with Energy Action Scotland (EAS), the Centre for Scottish Public Policy, and Transco, is organising a series of seminars, on housing, health, social, environmental and energy efficiency policies. The aim of these is to gather people with expertise together to hammer out a set of policy recommendations to take to the Scottish Executive.

John Taylor from UNISON's Gas Branch, Scotland said.
"It is important that UNISON is working together with these other agencies, so that we can put forward our views and get broader support. What will also be important is that UNISON's views on the various topics get an airing and I would urge activists to contribute to these seminars."

The inaugural seminar was held in Edinburgh on Friday, 4 February 2000. UNISON Scotland Convenor, Mike Kirby, chaired the seminar, highlighting the interests of our members in local government, health and the utilities in addressing fuel poverty.

Speakers included Ann Loughrey, from EAS, who argued that keeping warm is a basic right and it was no longer acceptable, in 21st Century Scotland, for people on the lowest incomes to die in cold, damp houses.

Liz Nicholson, from Shelter, highlighted the poor state of housing in Scotland, with 25% of houses suffering from dampness and condensation and a repair bill exceeding £10billion. She argued that this was the single most important housing problem in Scotland.

Damien Kileen, from the Poverty Alliance, argued that the reduction in VAT on fuel and winter fuel payments was an inadequate response to the problem. The link between poverty and health was now accepted but this needs to be translated into practical policy. Scotland needed an anti-poverty strategy with warm, dry homes as a key element.

Kevin Dunion, from Friends of the Earth, highlighted the environmental consequences of excess energy use. He called for more efficient generation, with better planning and more imaginative regulation, as well as more efficient use of energy.

Reports from the seminars will form the basis of a final conference to be held on Thursday, 30 March 2000, when final recommendations will be proposed for presentation to the Scottish Executive.

Contributions from UNISON members with an interest in this issue would be very welcome. Please send contributions to me at UNISON House, 14 West Campbell Street, Glasgow G2 6RX, e-mail: d.watson@unison.co.uk.