Mark has called on the SNP Government at Holyrood to support and fully implement Labour's ambitious energy efficiency proposals that could save Edinburgh home owners up to £380 off their fuel bills.

The UK Government's New Green Strategy, announced on 2nd March looks to give eco-upgrades to up to 7 million households across the UK and create 65,000 jobs in the green home industry.  The green "pay as you save" loans announced in the plan will give people help with installing measures such as solid wall insulation that could cut household energy bills by £380 a year.

In a letter to Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth, John Swinney, Mark urged the SNP Government to support "pay as you save" green loans for energy efficiency measures and low carbon energy technology like mini wind turbines and to help introduce new standards for energy efficiency in private rented housing.

Mark said:

"It is important that everyone works together to help bring people's energy bills down and fight climate change, whatever party they represent.

Labour have come forward with an ambitious plan to push forward energy efficiency across the UK and I hope that the SNP Government in Scotland will support our ambition on the issue.

I hope that John Swinney will commit to implementing our plans for greener and warmer homes north of the border.

We realise that a number of energy efficiency measures aren't cheap.
Labour is therefore committed to introducing measures that allow people to lower their energy bills through insulation at little direct cost.

Everyone has a stake in making our homes warmer, greener and cheaper to heat so I hope that I get a positive response from John Swinney on this matter."