Suggestions that Scotland's Green Homes Cashback Scheme will not be extended beyond today (31 March) have been met with concern by the National Insulation Association (NIA).

Suggestions that Scotland's Green Homes Cashback Scheme will not be extended beyond today (31 March) have been met with concern by the National Insulation Association (NIA). The Association said any such decision could cause consumers to lose out and insulation industry jobs to be lost.

Wilson Shaw, chair of the NIA Scotland, said: "The Green Deal Cashback scheme which operates in England and Wales has been extended to the end of June by the Department of Energy & Climate Change, with the sum available increased to £4,000 for solid wall insulation. However, it is understood that decisions have not yet been made on additional funding to support the continuation of the Green Homes Cashback Scheme in Scotland. This will mean that both consumers and our industry will be disadvantaged when the current scheme ends on 31 March 2014.

"The proposed cuts to the Energy Company Obligation that were announced in the Autumn Statement in December 2013, are expected to result in a major reduction in insulation installations from April 2014. Therefore, the government cashback schemes have a key role to play in filling the gap and supporting both householders and the insulation industry. It is essential that urgent decisions are made on the additional funding to support the continuation of a cashback scheme here in Scotland."