Why Scotland's OAPs Are Freezing

Feb 3 2008 By Mark Aitken Political Editor

Government Gas Plan In Shambles As Thousands Like Grace Told They'll Have To Wait Until Summer For Heating In Their Homes

WRAPPED in a thick blanket, OAP Grace McLachlan huddles beside a tiny electric heater in a desperate bid to stay warm.

The borrowed halogen heater is the 79-year-old former nurse's only form of heating since her boiler was condemned as dangerous in October.

As temperatures plummet she has been left to face the worst of the winter without central heating or hot water and has now been told her boiler will not be replaced until JUNE.

Grace is one of almost 11,000 pensioners who feel betrayed by the Scottish government and power chiefs.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon pledged an extra £7million to help OAPs beat the cold after we revealed that 11,000 were waiting for free central heating to be installed last November.

But three months on Scottish Gas - the firm paid by the Government to carry out the scheme - have admitted there are still 10,900 pensioners on the waiting list.

Grace, of Maryhill, Glasgow, said: "I can't believe it will take that long to get a simple thing like a boiler replaced.

"I have to walk tomy daughter's house to have a bath as there is no hot water and I've had to borrow an electric heater to keep warm."

More than 5000 pensioners were left shivering after applying for a new system only for engineers to condemn their old systems and shut them down.

Almost 3000 have had heating installed since November but many more have now joined the list.

Scottish Labour leader Wendy Alexander told Holyrood last week that waiting times have doubled from 114 to 229 days since the SNP took power.

The backlog means many pensioners like Grace face waiting until the summer.

Last winter more than 2500 Scots pensioners died from cold-related causes.

Politicians and pensioners' groups have called for urgent action.

Labour MP Jim Devine said: "I am appalled by these latest figures. Last November I was given assurances that additional resources would be put in to sort out this backlog.

"Clearly, that has not been the case. The tragedy iswe have pensioners who do not have any heating or hot water and could perish in a cold snap.

"I will write to Alex Salmond to demand that companies other than Scottish Gas are used or funds are released for pensioners to bring in someone to fit central heating."

Lindsay Scott, of Help the Aged Scotland, said: "We are disappointed that pledges made last year have not made bigger inroads into the waiting list."

Scottish Gas said: "We have received additional funding from Communities Scotland for the installation of heating.

This will further reduce waiting times by increasing installation rates."

The Scottish Government said: "Since Nicola Sturgeon announced the extra £7million, Scottish Gas have targeted 1600 priority cases. The number of installations planned this year has been increased to a record 15,000."

'I'm appalled ..pensioners without heat could die in a cold snap

JIM DEVINE MP

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