A new campaign aimed at helping fuel poor households reduce their energy bills has been launched by the Scottish Government.

It is inviting bids for a contract worth up to £224 million over seven years to deliver a new national fuel poverty scheme from 2015.

The Home Energy Scotland campaign will provide advice on cutting energy bills and help fuel poor homes install energy efficiency measures such as insulation and heating systems.

Fuel poverty is still a major issue in Scotland, affecting more than 27% of households, according to the Government.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Anyone can get energy efficiency advice and find out what’s available to them and many others can also qualify for energy saving improvements such as insulation, boilers or central heating for free.

“It is a scandal that there should be any fuel poverty in an energy-rich country like Scotland.”

The new scheme will build on the success of the Energy Assistance Scheme, which has provided more than 46,000 vulnerable households with heating and insulation measures in the last five years.

• energy bills, fuel poverty, Scotland, UK