Highland Council calls on UK Government to use its powers to help reduce fuel poverty

The Highland Council is calling on the UK Government to help resolve the inequity of fuel poverty experienced in the Highlands of Scotland where people pay more for fuel and energy than other regions in the UK.

Leader of The Highland Council, Cllr Margaret Davidson has written to the UK Government’s Minister of State (Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth) The Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP calling on the government to replace the current electricity distribution system with one that replicates that of gas and telecoms and share the cost of energy distribution equally across the UK.

At the latest meeting of The Highland Council, Members provided unanimous cross-party support for a motion which stated:

“This Council recognises from its own poverty and inequality data that large areas of the Highlands have over 70% and based on data provided by the CAB up to 90% of households in fuel poverty and commits to doing all in its power to resolve the inequity that has arisen due to the regional distribution charges for electricity provision.

“To that end this Council will write to the Minister of State (Minister for Business, Energy and Clean Growth) the Rt Hon Kwasi Kwarteng MP in support of the cross-party Early Day Motion EDM #552 that; calls on the Government to replace the current electricity distribution system with one that replicates that of gas and telecoms and share the cost of energy distribution equally across the UK.”