This Bill from the Scottish Government sets out:
This is a Government bill
The Bill became an Act on 18 July 2019
This Bill was passed and is now an Act of the Scottish Parliament.
This Bill from the Scottish Government sets out:
Fuel poverty is driven by:
The target is for no more than 5% of Scottish households to be in fuel poverty by 2040.
The Bill will also:
The previous target that was set in 2001 was not met. It aimed for no fuel poverty by 2016, but over a quarter of households are still in fuel poverty. This is in spite of Scotland being an energy-rich country.
A number of issues – mainly rising energy costs – have meant that fuel poverty levels have been increasing.
The new definition of fuel poverty means that it is much more to do with people’s incomes and cost of living, rather than the size of their home.
People living in fuel poverty are at greater risk of health problems like:
Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Bill as Introduced (169KB, pdf) posted 29 March 2019
Explanatory Notes (199KB, pdf) posted 29 March 2019
Policy Memorandum (352KB, pdf) posted 29 March 2019
Financial Memorandum (217KB, pdf) posted 29 March 2019
Delegated Powers Memorandum (198KB, pdf) posted 29 March 2019
Statements on legislative competence (87KB, pdf) posted 29 March 2019
All Bills introduced in the Parliament must be accompanied by specific documents. For most Bills, this includes:
Explanatory Notes: this document provides an overview of what the Bill does, plus a more detailed explanation of individual provisions.
Policy Memorandum: this sets out the objectives of the Bill. It also lists any alternatives considered, details of consultations, and an assessment of the effects of the Bill on a range of areas.
Financial Memorandum: this sets out estimates of costs, savings, and any changes to revenues expected to result from the Bill.
Delegated Powers Memorandum: this is needed if a Bill gives powers to make subordinate legislation or allows Scottish Ministers to issue directions, guidance or codes of practice.
Statements on legislative competence: two short statements, one by the Presiding Officer and one by the Member introducing the Bill. “Legislative competence” means the powers the Parliament has to make law.
The Presiding Officer has decided under Rule 9.12 of Standing Orders that a financial resolution is not required for this Bill.
For each Bill, the Presiding Officer must decide if a 'Financial Resolution' is required. The main reasons a Bill would need a Financial Resolution are that:
If a Bill requires a Financial Resolution:
The Scottish Parliament's Information Centre (SPICe) prepares impartial research and analysis to assist MSPs in their examination of Bills and other parliamentary business.
Research Briefing on the Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Bill
The Bill was introduced on 26 June 2018
At Stage 1, the Bill is given to a lead committee. This is usually the committee whose remit most closely relates to the subject of the Bill. The lead committee will consider and report on the Bill. Other committees may also examine the Bill and report to the lead committee. Finally, there is a debate and vote by all MSPs on the general principles of the Bill. If the general principles are not agreed to, then the Bill ‘falls’ and can’t become law.
The lead committee for this Bill is the Local Government and Communities Committee.
The lead committee will usually examine the Bill through evidence sessions. This will involve contributions from individuals and organisations, known as 'witnesses', with knowledge of the subject matter. The committee might also discuss the Bill in private sessions.
The deadline for sharing your views on this Bill has passed.
If a Bill is relevant to more than one committee, 'secondary committees' may consider and report on the general principles of the Bill to the lead committee. Some Bills may also be considered by the Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee or the Finance and Public Administration Committee.
A Stage 1 debate took place on 20 February 2019 to consider and decide on the general principles of the Bill.
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 1 on 20 February 2019
At Stage 2, MSPs can propose changes to a Bill. These are called 'amendments'. Any MSP can suggest amendments but only members of the Stage 2 committee can decide on them.
Documents with the amendments considered at this meeting held on 27 March 2019:
First Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (261KB, pdf) posted 10 May 2019
First Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (206KB, pdf) posted 10 May 2019
Documents with the amendments considered at this meeting held on 3 April 2019:
Second Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 2 (246KB, pdf) posted 10 May 2019
Second Groupings of Amendments for Stage 2 (246KB, pdf) posted 10 May 2019
A Stage 2 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been lodged at Stage 2 (or, if the Stage is mid-way through, all those still to be dealt with). They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the convener and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
Revised Explanatory Notes (337KB, pdf) posted 04 June 2019
Supplementary Financial Memorandum (138KB, pdf) posted 23 May 2019
Supplementary Delegated Powers Memorandum (119KB, pdf) posted 28 May 2019
Sometimes an amendment at Stage 2 makes substantial changes to a bill. If this happens, the Accompanying Documents need to be updated to explain what these changes are.
The Bill ended Stage 2 on 3 April 2019
At Stage 3, MSPs can propose further amendments (changes) to the Bill. These are debated and decided on in the Debating Chamber. At this stage, all MSPs can vote on them. There is then a debate on whether to pass the Bill. If the Bill is not passed, it ‘falls’ and can't become law.
Documents with the amendments considered in the Chamber on 6 June 2019:
Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3 (157KB, pdf) posted 03 June 2019
Groupings of Amendments for Stage 3 (216KB, pdf) posted 03 June 2019
Supplementary to the Marshalled List of Amendments for Stage 3 (154KB, pdf) posted 13 June 2019
A Stage 3 'Marshalled List' is a list of all the amendments that have been proposed at Stage 3 and that have been selected by the Presiding Officer. They are listed in the order in which they will be called by the Presiding Officer and then decided on.
A 'Groupings' list shows how the amendments that are listed in the Marshalled List have been grouped together for debate. Each group contains amendments that are related to each other, even if they are at different places in the Marshalled List.
‘Timed Groupings’ are usually produced at Stage 3 and set out how long Parliament expects to spend debating the groups of amendments.
Once MSPs have decided on the amendments, they debate whether to pass the Bill.
See further details of the motion
The Bill ended Stage 3 on 11 June 2019
If the Bill is passed, it is normally sent for Royal Assent after about 4 weeks. Royal Assent is when the Bill gets formal agreement by the King and becomes an Act of the Scottish Parliament. Some Acts become law straight after Royal Assent. Some only come into force on a later date. Sometimes different bits of the same Act become law on different dates.
The Bill was passed on 11 June 2019 and became an Act on 18 July 2019.
Fuel Poverty (Targets, Definition and Strategy) (Scotland) Act 2019