Action still needed on Central Heating delays

The waiting list for central heating needs action, says Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie, who has raised the issue in parliament, pointing to the handover of management of the central heating programme as a cause of delays..

"The warm deal and the central heating programme are excellent," she said, "and many of my older constituents have taken advantage of them. However, there is a long waiting list. I have constituents in their 80s who have been told that they will have to wait at least three months, until the summer. That is not good enough. Will the minister consider some way of prioritising need when dealing with waiting lists?"

The Deputy Minister for Communities, Des McNulty, said that regular meetings were held with Scottish Gas.

"After assessing eligibility, the current waiting list that was inherited from the Eaga Partnership has been reduced to about 4,500," he said. "All those who are on the revised list have been contacted and Scottish Gas has given a commitment that they should all receive their heating systems before 31 March. I hope that Cathy Peattie will regard that as good news. Where the circumstances arise, Scottish Gas will implement a system that will allow some people's circumstances to be taken into account and people to be moved up the list."

"About 80,000 people have benefited from the programme so far," said Cathy, "which is great, but we need to make sure that the delays caused by the changeover have been sorted, and that those in most need are provided for quickly. I look forward to this commitment being met."

(February 2007)

“Take advantage of the Central Heating Scheme”

Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie has welcomed the latest extension of the Central Heating Programme, and is urging eligible constituents to take advantage of existing and new opportunities for help.

“The scheme has made a big difference since it was first introduced.” said Cathy. “Since 2001 around 77,000 central heating systems have been installed – and 231,000 homes have been insulated since the Warm Deal programme began six years ago. That's over 1 in 10 of Scotland’s housing stock.

“Free central heating has so far been available to those with no central heating, and to people with partial or inefficient systems if they are over 80. Now private householders aged between 60 and 79 years with partial or inefficient central heating are also eligible, as long as they get the guaranteed element of Pension Credit.

“In the first instance, priority will be given to those aged over 75 and those who applied for new systems under the old scheme, and thereafter applications from people between 60 and 75 will be considered. New arrangements will also encourage repair rather than replacement where this is cost-effective.”

The new regulations also extend the Warm Deal programme to households with children with disabilities and receiving the disability living allowance. These homes can have free insulation measures installed up to the value of £500. There is a smaller grant up to £125 for pensioner households not on benefit. In total, over £294 million has been spent by the Executive on fuel poverty measures to date.

(December 2006)

MSP seeks assurances on Central Heating

Older people should expect better service under the new Scottish Gas central heating programme, says Falkirk East MSP Cathy Peattie, following a question in the Scottish Parliament.

Cathy began by asking about central heating installations under the existing programme. She then asked for more detailed information to be provided in future, and whether additional safeguards would be introduced to protect the public.

“Will the minister tell me how applicants will be prioritised to ensure that the greatest need is met first?” she said. “We know that there is a long waiting list for the service. Will the minister assure me that assessments will cover all needs, and that people will not be subjected to demands for additional money before the work starts, as happened to one of my elderly constituents who was asked for £150 upfront because the contractor felt that she needed another radiator?”

Noting that there had been 1,600 systems installed in the FK postcode area, the Deputy Minister for Communities, Johann Lamont, accepted that the programme had had its problems but gave an assurance that “written into the contract with Scottish Gas is an expectation of improvement in customer care.” and that “performance will be monitored independently with monthly reports to Communities Scotland.”

Cathy said that she welcomed the £62.5 million to be spent on the programme from October 2006 to March 2008, but was concerned about the waiting list that had developed in the transitional period and the need for better monitoring and measures to ensure that there was no repetition of past shortcomings. She urged anyone who experienced problems to contact her.

(October 2006)

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