He said he will use currently devolved powers to make homes warmer and help Scots get money off their bills.
Anas Sarwar has said a Scottish Labour government would make life more affordable for families by helping them upgrade their homes and lower their bills.
Mr Sarwar said families are “dealing with high bills and serious anxiety as a result of the turmoil in the international energy markets”.
Scottish Labour has pledged to use the powers of the Scottish Parliament to:
– Boost the uptake of the Warm Home Discount to stop Scots missing out on the £150 payment;
– Create a national warm homes programme to help people upgrade their homes – meaning warmer homes and lower bills;
– Widen eligibility for the Warmer Homes Scotland grant to help older people upgrade their homes, making 3,000 more homes eligible;
– Top up the grants for rural homeowners to invest in energy saving measures, providing an additional £500 per eligible household;
– Protect support for those relying on heating oil.
Mr Sarwar said: “Families across Scotland are dealing with high bills and serious anxiety as a result of the turmoil in the international energy markets.
“People in rural communities who rely on heating oil have seen painful increases in their energy costs.
“Every level of government must work together to tackle this crisis and it is right that the UK has acted to support people – providing direct support for those using heating oil, investigating rip-off charges, maintaining the energy price gap and pledging to further support for those who need it most.
“John Swinney and the SNP have failed to make sure Scots are getting the support they need and their woeful failure to upgrade Scottish homes has left people with colder homes and higher bills at a time when they can ill afford it.
“A Scottish Labour government led by me will make life more affordable for Scottish families by helping them to upgrade their homes and get money off their bills.
“We will ease the pressure on people in rural communities and older people.
“In May, Scotland can vote for change by electing a Scottish Labour government that will get the basics right and deliver a better future for Scotland.”
