Fuel Oil: Rural Areas

(asked on 26th May 2022) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to help people who live in rural communities with the cost of domestic heating oil when alternative options for heating are limited as a result of lack of connection to the gas grid or there is a limited competitive market for domestic heating oil supply as a result of the remote location.


Answered by
Helen Whately Portrait
Helen Whately
Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
This question was answered on 6th June 2022

On 26 May 2022 the Chancellor announced £15 billion of additional support for households struggling with the cost of living, particularly targeted at those with the greatest need.

This includes a doubling of the Energy Bills Support Scheme, providing an additional £200 to households that will not be recovered through higher bills in future years. This support extends to heating oil consumers, as long as they are also domestic electricity customers.

The Government is also providing a £650 one-off cost of living payment to households on means-tested benefits. Pensioner households will be eligible for a £300 cost of living payment, and individuals receiving extra disability benefits will also receive a £150 disability cost of living payment. To support people who need additional help, the Government is providing an extra £500 million of local support, via the Household Support Fund, which will be extended from this October to March 2023.

This package builds on the £22 billion package of support announced previously, with government support for the cost of living now totalling over £37 billion this year. This does not include continued financial support which remains available for heating oil customers with energy bills, if eligible, through the Warm Home Discount, Winter Fuel Payment and Cold Weather Payment schemes.

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