MSP Challenges Minister On Rural Gas Supplies

Local MSP Stewart Stevenson has challenged the Government to use the awarding of the contract for the Central Heating Programme to Scottish Gas to encourage the company to expand its operations into rural communities which do not currently benefit from gas.

Speaking during Question Time in the Scottish Parliament yesterday, Mr Stevenson said:

“The Minister will be aware that, even at the current high prices, gas is one of the most cost-effective fuels with which people can heat their homes. In the light of the appointment of Scottish Gas as the managing agent, has the Executive encouraged that company to supply gas to the many rural towns and villages that currently have no access to it even though, in my constituency, they are within a few hundred metres of gas mains?”

Commenting afterwards, Mr Stevenson said:

“I hope that this is something the Government will examine.

“If Ministers are serious about ending fuel poverty then it is incumbent upon them to help find ways in which the gas supply network can be extended into rural areas where the pipelines currently pass through but no gas connections have been made.”
Categories [Environment and Rural Development] [Communities]