Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to help people with oil-based heating systems, who primarily live in rural areas without main gas supplies, with the cost of energy.

The Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) scheme provides a £200 grant payment to UK households that use alternative fuels for heating instead of mains gas. Most households received the payment automatically through their electricity supplier, who were obliged to pay customers during February. Traditional prepayment customers may receive a voucher which they can redeem within 3 months. For the small proportion of households who could not be paid automatically, the online portal to apply for the support is open on gov.uk now. A small proportion of households will need to apply for the AFP, for example because they do not have a relationship with an electricity supplier. Applications for this Alternative Fund opened on 6 March through a GOV.UK portal which includes an overview of eligibility and what steps households need to take to apply for support.