Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had recent discussions with the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland on the adequacy of the £100 payment for households that use home heating oil in Northern Ireland.

Officials regularly meet with Northern Ireland stakeholders – including the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland – to discuss support available to households in Northern Ireland.

The topic of the £100 Alternative Fuel Payment has been discussed with the Consumer Council. The payment aims to ensure that a typical customer using heating oil will be offered support broadly in line with that offered by the Energy Price Guarantee, for those using mains gas to heat their homes.

The Government will monitor the price of heating oil and other alternative fuels to see if further intervention is required.