That this House notes with concern the sudden and severe rise in heating oil prices as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with prices almost trebling in a week; recognises that around a third of rural households rely on oil-fired heating and already face higher levels of fuel poverty; further notes that the cost of heating oil is not covered by Ofgem’s energy price cap and that households off-grid are therefore vulnerable to price spikes in the global energy market; notes with concern that Government action to support rural communities with increased heating oil prices amounts to just £35 per household; calls on the Government to go further and to provide urgent targeted support for rural communities by introducing a three-month zero-rating of VAT on heating oil for residential homes and to develop a mechanism to protect households reliant on heating oil from sudden price rises, similar to the energy price cap; and further calls on the Government to reduce long-term energy costs by upgrading homes, starting with free insulation for low-income households and ensuring that all new homes are built to zero-carbon standards.
Signatories (40)
- Tim Farron Sponsor
- Dr Danny Chambers
- Helen Morgan
- Andrew George
- Ian Roome
- Wera Hobhouse
- Wendy Chamberlain
- Alex Brewer
- Dr Al Pinkerton
- Jess Brown-Fuller
- Adam Dance
- Mr Joshua Reynolds
- Cameron Thomas
- Liz Jarvis
- Calum Miller
- Clive Jones
- Mr Will Forster
- Steff Aquarone
- Dr Roz Savage
- Jim Shannon
- Sarah Dyke
- Freddie van Mierlo
- Tom Gordon
- James MacCleary
- Mr Angus MacDonald
- Anna Sabine
- Ben Maguire
- Mr Lee Dillon
- Pippa Heylings
- David Chadwick
- Christine Jardine
- Charlotte Cane
- Gideon Amos
- Ben Lake
- Liz Saville Roberts
- Ann Davies
- Llinos Medi
- Helen Maguire
- Chris Law
- Richard Foord