Markus Campbell-Savours MP for Penrith and Solway has met
with the Minister for Energy Consumers Martin McCluskey, after raising a
question about the rising cost of heating oil in the House of Commons on
Monday.
After the debate in Parliament on Monday Markus said: “I am
receiving a considerable amount of correspondence expressing concerns over
escalating heating costs which have arisen during the conflict in the Middle
East. In my constituency there are almost 15,000 homes who are off the mains
gas grid. In these circumstances I’m seeking to meet the treasury ministers
responsible to make the case for additional support. I am afraid that the £53
million on offer nationally will need to be considerably increased. If this
escalation in price had happened at the beginning of October last year, at the
beginning of the winter months, the effect could have been catastrophic.”
After the meeting with the Minister for Energy Consumers, Markus
said: "I am pleased to have had the opportunity to meet Martin McCluskey,
the Minister leading the Government's response to the heating‑oil
price spike. We discussed the difficulties many constituents are facing in
securing deliveries, and I'm grateful to everyone who has already shared their
experiences — they have directly informed this
conversation.”
"The Government's support package will be delivered
through Cumbria's new unitary councils. I have already contacted them to check
on progress. I remain concerned that additional funding may be required; if
every tank ran dry tomorrow, the current package would clearly fall short. For
now, with many households still weeks away from running empty and uncertainty
about how long this crisis will last, the Government believes the existing
support is sufficient. In my view, much will depend on how effectively councils
administer the scheme, and I worry some may feel pressured to ration support
unnecessarily.”
"It will be essential for the Government to monitor
local authority delivery closely. If more funding is needed, I will press hard
for it.”
"The minister also acknowledged that deregulation in
the heating‑oil market has allowed parts of the industry to profit
from the crisis, and it is clear reforms will follow.
"Thank you again to everyone who has shared their story
so far. If you haven't yet done so, it's not too late to complete my survey.”
Complete the Heating Oil Survey via this link.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
