Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans she has to support households that are off the gas grid and use domestic heating oil as their primary source of heating in Stirling and Strathallan constituency.

The Department has regular discussions with the Devolved Administrations on a range of issues, including heating oil support. Fuel poverty is a devolved matter, and assessments of fuel poverty in Scotland are therefore a matter for the Scottish Government.

However, the Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off-gas-grid areas in constituencies such as Stirling and Strathallan, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. The UK Government provided £53 million of targeted support for vulnerable households struggling with higher heating oil costs, with £4.6 million allocated to the Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme.

The Government also continues to monitor heating oil supply and prices and engage with industry to support resilient supply and fair pricing.

Eligible low-income households may also receive support with their electricity costs through the Warm Home Discount, including households that use heating oil as their primary source of heating.

The Government’s action to cut VAT from bills from 1 October and at the last Budget to remove £150 costs from energy bills means that all households with a domestic electricity contract will benefit from bill savings, including those who use oil to heat their homes.