Stevenson Backs Parliamentary Action Highlighting Excess Winter Deaths

Banff and Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has signed his colleague, Margaret Ewing’s Parliamentary Motion on the issue of excess winter deaths.

Commenting on the issue, Mr Stevenson said:

“I have a growing concern of this issue as it is becoming all too familiar. It is not pleasant to learn that, despite an assortment of hard work to lessen fuel poverty, excess winter deaths still persist in rising.

"Some of the most vulnerable people in our society are being forced to suffer and have been offered little support from this government. We should be doing everything we can to ease the financial strain on our elderly population, so that they can live comfortably, in warm housing without the fear of being unable to heat their homes during the colder months.

“I believe that this is a shocking trend which must be reversed at the earliest opportunity via the implementation of additional measures. The Scottish Executive should not delay in reviewing the effectiveness of existing schemes as it is nothing short of irresponsible to have thousands of elderly people dying each year simply because of the colder weather.”