Plumbing Organisation Gets the Green Light for Scottish Parliament E-Petition for a Boiler Scrappage Scheme in Scotland

EDINBURGH, Scotland, February 1 - SNIPEF (The Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers' Federation)
which represents nearly 700 plumbing and heating businesses in Scotland
(employing nearly 3500 operatives) has set up a Public Petition through the
Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to follow the lead of
Westminster and introduce a "Boiler Scrappage Scheme" in Scotland.

The Petition which can be accessed at
www.snipef.org/boilerscrappage.htm, calls on the Scottish Parliament
to "introduce a financial incentive similar to that which applies in England
to encourage the replacement of older, inefficient central heating boilers".

SNIPEF Director Robert Burgon said, "By introducing a boiler scrappage
scheme in Scotland it will mean the Scottish Government will have a great
opportunity not only to help with fuel poverty by reducing the large number
of inefficient boilers which exist, but also to help to reduce Scotland's
carbon footprint. We have decided to launch this as an e-petition as a means
of demonstrating to the Scottish Government that such a scheme would be
popular in Scotland and we encourage people to sign the e-petition before the
closing date of 19 February 2010."

Robert Burgon added, "With the likelihood of continuing increases in fuel
costs the incidence of fuel poverty will regrettably continue to increase.
Householders with older, inefficient boilers will be doubly affected as their
boilers use more fuel than would be the case with a modern boiler."

Finally, Robert said, "We understand the government's position over
focusing the assistance to those who are affected by fuel poverty and we are
sure that a scheme can be developed which both does this and addresses the
environmental damage caused by inefficient central heating boilers."

Notes for editors

1 SNIPEF (Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers' Federation) was
established in 1923 and has just under 800 member businesses, which employ
nearly 4500 operatives.

2 Reasons for introducing a boiler scrappage scheme:

2.1 Such incentive schemes work

The car scrappage scheme (on which the boiler scrappage scheme
was based) has had a significant impact in encouraging car owners to replace
older, inefficient and environmentally unfriendly vehicles. It is believed
that a boiler scrappage scheme would have a similar effect in relation to
encouraging the replacement of inefficient central heating boilers.

2.2 The scheme would help the environment

Scotland is correctly seen as a leader in the global quest to
reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The Energy Saving Trust (EST) believes that
central heating boilers account for 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions in a
gas heated home. It claims that if everyone in the UK with gas central
heating installed a high efficiency condensing boiler, we would save 6.7
million tones of carbon dioxide a year, as much as the annual emissions of
1.2 million homes.

The Scheme which has been introduced in England provides financial
incentives to enable the installation of 125,000 new high efficiency boilers
which the UK Government claims is the equivalent of taking 45,000 cars off
the road.

Changes to the Scottish Building Regulations in 2007 mean that
any new boiler fitted must be a condensing high efficiency model which means
that there is a guaranteed environmental benefit from a boiler scrappage
scheme (unlike the car scrappage scheme under which inefficient new vehicles
could be purchased).

2.3 Consumers would enjoy lower utility bills

With recent increases in fuel prices and the likely continuing
increase in gas and oil particularly, the incidence of fuel poverty will
continue to increase. Householders with older, inefficient boilers are doubly
affected as their boilers use more of the expensive fuel than would be the
case with a modern replacement boiler. It is believed that a new 'A' rated
condensing boiler and better controls could reduce the household fuel bills
by up to a quarter (where an old 'G' rated boiler is being replaced). The
following table is taken from the DEFRA Boiler Efficiency website
(www.sedbuk.com) which shows the actual savings which could be
obtained if a new boiler is installed:

    Typical Annual Fuel Costs

                      Seasonal   Flat    Bungalow Terraced  Semi-    Detached
                      efficiency                            detached
    Old boiler
    (heavy weight)    55%        GBP267  GBP341   GBP354    GBP397   GBP550
    Old boiler
    (light weight)    65%        GBP231  GBP293   GBP304    GBP340   GBP470
    New boiler
    (non-condensing)  78%        GBP197  GBP249   GBP258    GBP289   GBP396
    New boiler
    (condensing)      88%        GBP178  GBP224   GBP232    GBP259   GBP355

2.4 Support for businesses and employment

The credit crunch and economic recession have had a
significant negative impact on many of Scotland's plumbing and heating
businesses (the majority of which are micro businesses). Workload has
decreased, there has been significant downward pressure on prices (which were
already extremely competitive) and many plumbers and heating engineers have
been made redundant.

A Scottish boiler replacement scheme would provide a much
needed boost to the plumbing and heating industry and its workforce in
Scotland.

While in England installation must be carried out by a
Competent Person's Scheme (which do not apply in Scotland) we propose that,
in order to qualify for the incentive, householders must engage the services
of an installer which is registered with the Construction Licensing Executive
(CLE) Plumbing Industry Licensing Scheme. In addition, gas systems must be
installed by an installer registered with Gas Safe Register.

2.5 A Scottish scheme would reduce consumer and installer confusion

The existing English scheme has been widely promoted in all aspects of
the media across the UK which has led to significant confusion both within
the industry and among consumers. SNIPEF members have reported customer
awareness of the Scheme and have received requests for information and many
householders are putting off work until such time that the Scottish
government decides if it will introduce a similar scheme.

For more information contact Robert Burgon on +44(0)131-225-2255 or Alan Wilson on +44(0)7801-741351