Scottish minister urges more action on energy bills from UK Government

Scotland’s energy minister has urged the UK Government to take more action on household bills ahead of winter.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has already announced plans to cut VAT on energy bills, but Stephen Gethins has said the move “cannot be the extent of his ambition”.

The call comes as regulator Ofgem is expected to announce the new energy price cap for the final quarter of the year next week, with experts suggesting it could rise again.

“Energy costs are forcing too many families to make difficult decisions about household budgets. In an energy-rich country like Scotland, that is simply unacceptable,” Gethins said.

“The UK Government came to office promising to cut people’s bills by £300, yet bills are already more than £250 higher than they promised – and they are going to go up even higher before winter, with experts predicting that the price cap will rise again.

“This needs to be a wake-up call for the new Prime Minister – with Scotland’s energy sending hundreds of billions of pounds to the UK Treasury over the years, a modest £45 saving from cutting VAT cannot be the extent of his ambition.

“Households in Scotland need real support before winter.

“The Scottish Government is using our limited powers to invest in more energy-efficient homes, tackle fuel poverty and meet our ambitious climate change targets – and we have already helped thousands of households save between an estimated £300 and £500 a year. We are acting wherever we can.

“But while full energy powers still sit with the UK Government, it is Scottish households who are paying the price.

“Scotland’s energy must be in Scotland’s hands so we can bring down bills. Until that is the case, I am once again urging the UK Government to match our ambition and act now to help people with their energy bills.”

An HM Treasury spokesperson said: “Giving families breathing space, including those in Scotland, has been a key focus for this Government since its first week.

“Helping people live better is going to be at the heart of everything we do.

“The Prime Minister has already cut VAT on household electricity bills, saving people £45 a year.

“This is alongside the £150 of costs removed from bills at the last budget.”