Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Bill and Fuel Poverty Strategy: health impact assessment

13. Conclusion

The draft fuel poverty strategy will reference the health impacts of living in a cold home and the benefits to both physical and mental wellbeing from making homes warmer and more affordable to heat through the installation of energy efficiency measures.

The draft strategy will also reference the importance of collaborative and partnership working to help us identify people living in cold homes that need help and support.

A cross Ministerial meeting was held in December 2017, where Ministers across a range of portfolios, including the Minister for Public Health and Sport, agreed to continue to seek opportunities to enhance joint working to resolve the issue of people living in fuel poverty.

In addition, the Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Bill will set a new statutory long term target that by the year 2040, no more than 5% of households are in fuel poverty.

The Bill will also include a requirement for Scottish Ministers to publish a report every 5 years to update on progress towards the long term target and the plans for the next 5 years, and to report at the end of the target date.

We will ensure that every aspect of the Fuel Poverty (Target, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Bill and the fuel poverty strategy is informed by expert policy advice and first-hand experience of fuel poverty. We will achieve this by continuing to work in close partnership with stakeholders, the Scottish Fuel Poverty Advisory Panel and, the Scottish Fuel Poverty Partnership Forum. These groups will also have responsibility for monitoring progress on meeting the statutory long term target.