Stephen Gethins: “I think Lara's doing a brilliant job.”

More than 6,700 payments have been made since the Scottish Government launched this scheme to ensure households with the greatest need could meet the cost of keeping their homes warm.

While prices have fallen since the peak in March, ongoing international uncertainty means further increases cannot be ruled out this winter.

We need the UK Government to step up now to remove barriers and provide the confidence the market needs in order to accelerate investment.

But providing support with fuel costs is only part of the picture. Improving a home's energy efficiency or switching to a cleaner heating system can help people lower their energy bills for years to come, as well as making homes warmer and…