THE value of winter fuel payments to over 60s will fall over the next five years according to a Labour MSP.

Because the amount has been unchanged at £200 a year since 2007 with inflation the payment is set to be worth 10% less than it was when first introduced.

Scottish Labour Deputy Leader, Alex Rowley, said bills are expected to rise again and warned that efforts to tackle fuel poverty are being hampered.

He said almost half of pensioner households are living in fuel poverty and called on both Holyrood and Westminster governments to do more to help.

Mr Rowley said: “These figures show the value of winter fuel payments is set to plummet in the next five years. The SNP needs to have a plan in place to adequately tackle fuel poverty at the source.

“It’s disgraceful that we still see hundreds of thousands of people living in cold and damp housing and having to choose between heating and eating.”

There is an estimated 750,000 households in fuel poverty in Scotland, spending more than 10% of their income on heating costs.

More than four in ten are pensioners who the winter fuel allowance is targeted at.

Mr Rowley said the SNP missed targets to eradicate fuel poverty.

He added: “Labour wants to see a Warm Homes Act to drive up standards and regulations, along with a measurable plan of action that will show year-on-year targets for eradicating fuel poverty in Scotland.

“With bills set to rise and the value of the Winter Fuel Payment falling, the SNP government must bring forward a clear plan and time frame for when we end fuel poverty in Scotland for good.”

The Scottish Government’s draft budget for 2017/18 includes £114m for fuel poverty/energy efficiency measures.

The draft budget produced by Finance Secretary, Derek Mackay, stated: “We will continue to tackle fuel poverty through our Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland, with grants available to local authorities to deliver Area Based Schemes and support available to vulnerable households though our Warmer Homes Scotland scheme.

“A total of £74m capital funding will help over 14,000 households heat their homes more affordably.”