Maree Todd: Taking action to fight poverty amid cost-of-living crisis
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Holyrood Notebook by Maree Todd
Earlier this month, Channel 4 shined a light on the injustices of the energy charging regime in the Highlands, where it was reported that despite being an ‘energy powerhouse’, three in 10 households in the region were experiencing fuel poverty before the cost of living crisis.
Speaking candidly with Shona, a single mum to 11-year-old twins living in Invergordon, we heard of the tough choices she is forced to take in order to get by.
Shona went on to describe the fear she has over further price increases and the uncertainty around household finances.
Unfortunately, Shona’s story is not unique. I hear similar accounts from people and families across my constituency who are experiencing or are vulnerable to fuel poverty.
The rise in the energy price cap on April 1 is expected to take the average energy bill up to £2000 a year, a devastating increase of 50 per cent. This, combined with price pressures in other areas, will leave many hard-pressed households facing further financial strain.
From a health perspective, I’m all too aware of the link between cold homes and ill health. Research over the years has shown that living in cold, damp homes can exacerbate health problems and leave many at a higher risk of respiratory disease, heart disease, circulatory disease and mental health problems.
In my role as health minister earlier this month, I relayed the health inequalities we face in Scotland to the Health, Social Care and Sport Committee, which is undertaking an inquiry into the health and wellbeing of children and young people in Scotland.
I spoke about the actions the Scottish Government is taking to fight poverty and address inequalities but how, despite our efforts to help families with progressive benefits and funding to support the insulation of homes, we’re tackling these issues with one hand tied behind our back.
Whilst we are doing more than any other UK administration to tackle poverty, without the full powers over welfare, energy and the economy, we are severely constrained in our response.
I welcome the cost-of-living mitigation measures my colleague Kate Forbes set out in the Scottish Budget last week. The Scottish Government will give £150 to every household in receipt of council tax reduction in all council tax bands and will also give local authorities funding to pass on £150 to other occupied households in bands A to D.
An additional £10 million to continue the Fuel Insecurity Fund was also announced, which will help households at risk of self-disconnection, or self-rationing their energy use, due to unaffordable fuel costs.
The cabinet secretary was honest in admitting that these measures do not go far enough to address the cost-of-living crisis, but the devolved settlement means we cannot go further to address the root problems, from energy regulation to full control over social security and tax systems.
It’s worth acknowledging the challenging circumstances in which the finance secretary delivered this budget update.
At the time of writing, the Scottish Government still does not have a finalised position from the UK government on consequentials funding. We’ve almost come to expect this level of contempt from the UK government at budget time.
This pattern of ambiguity not only impacts the Scottish Government’s spending plans, but it filters down to local government and vital public services too.
- Maree Todd is the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross.
