The Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employer's Federation has set up a public petition through the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to follow the lead of Westminster and introduce a "Boiler Scrappage Scheme" in Scotland.

The Petition which can be accessed at www.snipef.org/boilerscrappage.htm,, calls on the Scottish Parliament to "introduce a financial incentive similar to that which applies in England to encourage the replacement of older, inefficient central heating boilers".


SNIPEF Director Robert Burgon said: "By introducing a boiler scrappage scheme in Scotland it will mean the Scottish Government will have a great an opportunity not only to help with fuel poverty by reducing the large number of inefficient boilers which exist, but also to help to reduce Scotland’s carbon footprint

"We have decided to launch this as an e-petition as a means of demonstrating to the Scottish Government that such a scheme would be popular in Scotland and we encourage people to sign the e-petition before the closing date of 19 February 2010."

Robert Burgon added: "With the likelihood of continuing increases in fuel costs the incidence of fuel poverty will regrettably continue to increase. Householders with older, inefficient boilers will be doubly affected as their boilers use more fuel than would be the case with a modern boiler."

(GK/BMcC)