Following today's Wellbeing Economy, Net Zero and Energy portfolio questions in the Scottish Parliament, Highlands and Islands MSP and Deputy Rural Affairs Spokesperson Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
"Next Wednesday, the Scottish Parliament will debate my motion which recognises the importance of wood-burning stoves to homes in rural and island communities across Scotland.
“They are often the only source of heat and hot water when power is lost, and the SNP’s ban could leave vulnerable households and communities isolated and at greater risk, as well as worsening already high levels of fuel poverty.
“It has cross-party support, including – for the moment, at least - from the Deputy First Minister, Kate Forbes, so the Scottish Government cannot stick its head in the sand and just ignore the pleas of communities in the Highlands and Islands who want to see this ban reversed.
"Gillian Martin, the minister responsible, knows full well that the new regulations effectively ban the use of woodburning stoves in all new homes, something which could have a devastating impact on local households, especially in bad weather.
"That is why I have called again on the Scottish Government to reverse this damaging ban, one which has seen opposition from even from some of their own more independent thinking MSPs, and which has proved just out of touch SNP ministers are with rural and islands communities”.
ENDS
Notes to editor
Watch Jamie Halcro Johnston MSP’s question here: https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/meeting-of-the-parliament-may-22-2024?clip_start=14:13:50&clip_end=14:15:17
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