THE Scottish government’s plans to reinstate winter fuel payments next year do not go far enough as pensioners need help with heating now, Unite said.

The Labour government’s decision to means test pensioners’ winter fuel payments had been adopted in Scotland, but Scottish Labour has since distanced itself from the policy.

Last week, the SNP Scottish government announced that from 2025-26 it would be replaced with payments of £100, £200 or £300 depending on income.