Plumbing Organisation Urges the Scottish Government to Introduce a Boiler Scrappage Scheme in Scotland

EDINBURGH, January 5 - SNIPEF (The Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers' Federation)
which represents nearly 700 plumbing and heating businesses in Scotland
(employing nearly 3500 operatives) has urged the Scottish Government to
follow the lead of Westminster and introduce a "Boiler Scrappage Scheme" in
Scotland.

The plea follows the launch of such a scheme in England today (5 January
2010). The scheme is offering a GBP400 cash incentive to those householders
who wish to upgrade their central heating boiler and has been viewed as a
welcome boost to the sector which has been badly hit by the economic
recession.

SNIPEF Director Robert Burgon said "By introducing a similar 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."

Robert Burgon added "The Energy Savings Trust which is administering the
scheme in England has advised that the installation of an efficient heating
system is an effective way of reducing household energy bills and CO2
emissions, as domestic heating accounts for 14 per cent of the UK's CO2
emissions."

    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.

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