The Real Cold War

Fuel poverty is defined as needing to pay more than 10 per cent of income on fuel bills while those in extreme fuel poverty spend more than 20% of income.  Charities have hit out at the big energy suppliers and the Scottish Government for not doing enough for the most vulnerable in society, especially in the winter months.

Fuel poverty has reached its highest level in a decade, with rising energy prices meaning that almost two out of five homes in Scotland are now suffering from the problem. Scottish Government figures for 2013 showed that 940,000 households across the country were classed as being in fuel poverty - a rise of about 100,000 from the previous year. There were 39.1% of households in fuel poverty last year - a rise of almost four percent from 2012 and more than double the total of 16% that were affected in 2003-04. Some 10.5% of households were suffering from extreme fuel poverty in 2013 - up from 9.4% the previous year.

David Stewart, of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations, said that fuel poverty was now at "crisis levels in Scotland" and called for more to be done to provide warm, affordable homes. He added: "Too many households cannot afford to heat their homes and they face a choice between heating their homes or eating this winter. 

Almost half of pensioners in Dumbarton and the Vale are living in fuel poverty, according to a report.