£15m for insulation scheme

Households will be offered free or discounted insulation to help lower bills and prepare for winter, the Scottish Government announced yesterday.

About 200,000 households will be contacted across Scotland over the next few months.

Those on low incomes will be offered free loft and cavity wall insulation and higher-income households will get a discount.

The Government, which is spending 15 million on the scheme, said the measures could save people 50 a year on fuel bills and cut carbon emissions.

They also aim to create jobs for energy advisers, insulation manufacturers and installers.

Housing Minister Alex Neil said: "Offering householders a means to keep the heat in is a great way to help families and the elderly to save money.

"If we have a winter like last winter, this will be more important than ever."