Plan To Beat Winter Chill: It Is Time To Help Families Heat Homes

Energy minister urges Sunak to bring in social energy tariff for struggling Scots

- CHRIS McCALL

RISHI Sunak has been urged to throw a lifeline to people in Scotland struggling to pay soaring energy bills before temperatures plummet this winter.

The Scottish Government has called for a "social energy tariff" to cut fuel poverty and ensure all families can afford to heat their homes.

Households in greatest need would be automatically placed on a tariff that includes a significant discount on the unit price of energy as well as covering standing charges.

The scheme would be open to those in receipt of means-tested benefits such as universal credit, pension credit and personal independence payments.

But it could also include households that are narrowly ineligible for benefits or on low incomes.