The Scottish Government was accused last night of “complacency” over its energy efficiency and home insulation scheme.
The charge from Liberal Democrat energy spokesman Liam McArthur followed an exchange in the Scottish Parliament in which he said much more was needed.
The Orkney MSP asked Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon if she was concerned that a third of the £15million for the current home insulation scheme had gone on administration.
He also asked if she regretted that only £750,000 of matching funding being sought by the government had been forthcoming.
Holyrood’s economy, energy and tourism committee recommended recently that the government use the budget to consider “substantially increasing” funds for an area-based, targeted energy efficiency programme designed to tackle fuel poverty and reduce the demand for energy.
Mr McArthur asked if she agreed with the committee’s unanimous view that the government action was “simply not enough”.
Ms Sturgeon replied that the home insulation scheme was on track for local marketing to begin later this month and the scheme should benefit 100,000 homes rather then the 90,000 envisaged originally. She said the £15million was included in the draft budget and it was up to any MSP to lodge amendments as it went through the parliamentary process, but they would have to say where the money would come from.
“I wonder how Liam McArthur’s call for yet more money to be spent on yet another part of the Scottish Parliament’s budget fits with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg’s call for savage cuts in public expenditure. Perhaps Liam McArthur would care to square that circle,” she said.
Afterwards Mr McArthur attacked Ms Sturgeon’s attitude, and said: “The deputy first minister insists nothing more needs to be done to improve energy efficiency and reduce fuel poverty in Scotland. This is an astonishingly complacent and misguided attitude.”
The view of the economy, energy and tourism committee that more was needed was echoed by all MSPs in a debate on the issue on Wednesday, Mr McArthur said.
“By contrast, Ms Sturgeon chooses to stick her head in the sand and ignore the growing consensus that current initiatives are just not enough,” he said.