Cold comfort

Warmer Homes scheme faces backlog

- ANDREW QUINN

AN "overburdened" Scottish Government home insulation scheme has a backlog of thousands despite only being set up in October, according to figures obtained by Labour.

The Warmer Homes Scotland scheme provides support to vulnerable people to make their homes warmer. It is open to certain pensioners, disabled people, carers and veterans.

The scheme was paused earlier this year to reassess the eligibility criteria but progress has been slow since it reopened to applicants in October.

Just 73 Warmer Homes installations were completed since April, with 5368 still stuck in the processing backlog.

Some 264 are in progress, while 197 are booked to start.