Milngavie MSP Des McNulty is angry that pensioners who previously would have qualified for the programme, introduced by Labour in 2002, are now not having their applications progressed.

Cabinet Secretary Nicola Sturgeon announced in May that only those in three priority groups — people who do not have a central heating system, those over 80 whose system had broken down, and those whose system had broken down and were in receipt of pensioner credit — would have their applications considered.

Other pensioners are faced with long delays and the prospect that eligibility might be withdrawn.

Mr McNulty said: "Many older people in Bearsden and Milngavie have low incomes but just fall under the threshold for pension credits. They could now face major bills if their central heating system breaks down irretrievably, bills they cannot afford to pay.

"At a time when energy prices are going up sharply, it seems unreasonable that older people are being denied help when their central heating finally packs in.

"Nicola Sturgeon's claim that the central heating programme needs to be overhauled to put the fuel poor at the heart of the programme adds insult to injury.

"The applications that are piling up and those that would have been submitted by eligible pensioners are from people who need help.

"Ideally central heating systems should be installed during the summer and autumn so that older people would be nice and warm when the colder weather arrives. But now many deserving older people are either going to go without heating or be forced to use what savings they have to keep warm. It seems very wrong."

This does not affect applicants who applied before May 22, 2008. All eligible applicants already on the application system will continue to have their application processed.

Applicants who are not in one of the three priority groups outlined above will not have their applications taken at this time. They may, however, be able to reapply once the way forward for the programme has been decided.

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