Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has warmly welcomed figures which show a record level of installations under the Government's Central Heating programme. The latest figures show a 69% increase in the number of installations between 2006/07 and 2007/08 in Aberdeenshire.
In 2006/07 there were 581 compared to 983 in the last recorded year when the SNP Government came to office in May 2007. In addition extra funding from the Scottish Government has helped to reduce the national waiting list from 11,300 in November to 9,300 by the end of March.
Commenting on the figures Mr Stevenson said:
"We live in one of the coldest countries of Europe, a factor that causes a lot of hardship to low income families and in particular the elderly. The increase in the number of people having central heating installed in their homes will work to create more effective heating systems and alleviate the effects of the cold for many in Banff and Buchan.
“When the SNP came into Government our focus was ensuring that all Government agencies and sponsored programmes would work more efficiently and at the same high pace that we are taking in running the country.
“Under our stewardship we are delivering for Scotland and the record level of central heating installations is another reflection of this. This is excellent news for people in vulnerable households in Banff and Buchan and throughout Scotland. During the cold winter months it is especially important that older are able to heat their homes in a way that is efficient and affordable.
"These figures show a massive rise in the number of households who have benefited from the extra investment in the Central Heating Programme from the SNP Government. The additional funding we are pleased to announce has also helped cut the waiting list substantially.”
Karen Adam is now the MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast
