With social inequality caused by fuel poverty a major focus of John Swinney’s Budget speech,  HFS Chief Executive Philip Hogg (right) said:

“New homes built to today’s standards have already reduced their carbon emissions by over 70% on 1990 levels and are extremely energy efficient, offering potential significant savings on running costs.

“With even tougher standards effective from October this year, the home building industry clearly has a fundamental role to play in tackling fuel poverty, addressing climate change and improving the energy efficiency of Scotland’s housing stock.

"Our members stand ready to work with the Scottish Government to help deliver enough warm, sustainable homes for everyone and achieve a more equitable society but, with housing production still languishing at its lowest level for 70 years, the industry still needs significant support and we still await full details of how the outstanding balance of the £125m to support housing supply that was announced last October will be allocated.”