To say the least, we’re truly disappointed
Further details have emerged regarding the Scottish Government’s “ground-breaking” Home Insulation Scheme. In a rush of warm self-congratulation, this was hailed by the SNP as an “excellent initiative“, with Stirling chosen as one of the first parts of the country to benefit. Unfortunately, the cold truth is that a series of significant flaws have now become apparent.
The SNP’s £15m plan invests just a seventh of what the Scottish Green Party originally proposed, but would be fourteen times less effective in cutting carbon emissions. Ministers estimate their scheme would achieve a reduction of 24,250 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e) in one year, however their figures also show the Greens’ insulation programme would have saved 3,450,000 tCO2e over ten years.
Incredibly, more than £5m will be squandered on administration, management fees, data collection and marketing. Even the remainder is not guaranteed to be spent entirely on actual energy efficiency measures. Ministers also promised Parliament their investment would be matched by £15m from partner organisations. In reality, they have attracted only £750,000, just a twentieth of their target.
The Scottish Building Federation yesterday urged Holyrood’s Economy, Enterprise and Tourism Committee to speed up the insulation of Scotland’s homes. The scheme put forward by the Scottish Green Party would have delivered free loft and cavity wall insulation to all homes in Scotland by 2020. Under the SNP, many Scots face another six decades in cold, draughty uninsulated properties: on annual budget of £15m, the Government’s own figures suggest that the work would not be completed any time before 2075.
Scottish Ministers also admit they will not meet the UK Government’s 2015 target on insulation. This is hardly surprising considering the SNP’s unambitious penny-pinching approach. Patrick Harvie MSP sums it up perfectly: “To say we’re disappointed with the scheme so far would be the understatement of the year.”
The SNP could have supported the Scottish Greens’ proposals for an effective scheme providing free insulation to take thousands of families out of fuel poverty, but didn’t. Instead we have a hopelessly weak imitation that should shame the SNP Government and quieten anyone who still reckons the other parties can be trusted to honour their green promises. Not only are the major flaws in the Government’s insulation scheme becoming apparent, but also the obvious conclusion that if you want genuine green policies you really have to vote for the Green party.
