Local MP calls on Prime Minister to bring down the cost of energy bills

During Prime Minister’s Questions in Parliament, Marie Tidball, Member of Parliament for Penistone and Stocksbridge, asked the Prime Minister to ensure households most in need can access government support for heating oil costs. She also stressed the urgent need to improve the regulation of the oil industry, to bring down the cost of energy bills.

In the Commons, Marie Tidball MP told the Prime Minister:

“My constituent Caroline, from Grenoside, told me that since December the cost of her heating oil has nearly tripled, from £257 to £700! Local farmers I met last week also raised their concerns that the oil industry has not been properly regulated, disadvantaging off-grid customers.”

She asked Keir Starmer:

“While I welcome the Government’s £53 million support package for rural communities, will the Prime Minister confirm how disabled people, vulnerable people and low-income households can access this support, and how he will improve regulation of oil to bring down the cost of energy bills?”

In response to Marie’s question, the Prime Minister confirmed:

“My first instinct is always to protect people from the cost of living. The immediate action we have taken, in relation to those who heat their homes with oil, is the £53 million that we announced this week. That is particularly important for rural communities and for Northern Ireland.”

He went onto explain:

“De-escalation in the middle east is the quickest way to reduce the cost of living. Anyone who advocated for the UK to rush head-long into the offensive, without a clear picture of what it would mean for our forces, or without thinking through the economic impact for families, should stand up and apologise.”

The Government’s has put in place a £53 million financial support package to help families struggling with soaring heating oil costs. This will be specifically targeted for low-income households in rural communities who have no choice but to top up their tanks at a time when prices have risen so significantly.

The Government also announced their intention to regulate the heating oil sector to introduce new consumer protections, alongside securing agreement with industry to quickly improve customer experiences.

Following the exchange, Marie Tidball MP said:

“A number of constituents have contacted me about the surge in heating oil costs, due to the Middle East conflict. I know these price hikes are particularly affecting farmers and rural communities, like ours, with lots of people having to pay an upfront lump sum to top up their tanks in order to maintain their heating and hot water.“I strongly welcome the £53 million of targeted financial support the government have announced for rural communities like ours. It’s also reassuring that the Government is taking decisive steps to regulate the oil industry, to close the inequality between on grid and off grid customers.“I know the Government is committed to fighting people’s corner in tackling cost of living pressures, and I’m glad to see they have taken direct action to tackle this real and urgent problem. I’ll continue working closely with Ministers to ensure oil prices and energy bills come down for our communities.”