Current status: Answered by Neil Gray on 3 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support people with Raynaud's phenomenon and other cold-related conditions; whether it provides any guidance to people affected by these conditions, and whether it has engaged with the UK Government regarding protections for medically vulnerable people in relation to energy market regulation.
The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that people living in Scotland with Raynaud’s phenomenon and other cold-related conditions are able to access safe, effective and person-centred healthcare and support.
We set the policy direction for health services and provide the resources that enable healthcare professionals to offer appropriate clinical care and advice. Public-facing information and guidance for people living with Raynaud’s phenomenon is available through NHS Inform Raynaud's phenomenon | NHS inform, supporting individuals to better understand and manage their condition.
Whilst energy pricing and regulation remain fully reserved to the UK Government, we continue to engage regularly with them and have consistently called for stronger protections for medically vulnerable households. This includes the introduction of an automatic, targeted energy bill discount for people with unavoidably higher costs due to medical need. Our proposals together with published modelling suggests around 155,000 households with medical need could benefit, with estimated fuel bills reduced by £1000 on average.
We also recognise the important role that warm, energy-efficient homes play in protecting health. Retrofitting measures such as loft and wall insulation can significantly reduce exposure to cold. The Scottish Government delivers a range of energy efficiency and clean heating support schemes and advice services, targeted at those most in need, to help people live in warmer, healthier homes.