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Fuel Costs: Rural Households and Communities
29 March 2023
Lead MP
Angela Crawley
Lanark and Hamilton East
SNP
Responding Minister
Amanda Solloway
Tags
TaxationEnergy
Word Count: 2680
Other Contributors: 4
At a Glance
Angela Crawley raised concerns about fuel costs: rural households and communities in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government should ensure that remaining households eligible for alternative fuel payments receive them promptly. Additionally, the Minister should address how she plans to ameliorate the impact of rising fuel costs on off-grid electricity-dependent households. The Government must also consider more stringent windfall tax measures and commit to reducing exponential increases in standing charges.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Around 2 million people in the UK rely on off-grid gas supplies to heat their homes, including heating oil, liquefied petroleum gas, coal, and biomass. Rural homes are more likely to be less energy-efficient and therefore more susceptible to fuel poverty, with 15.9% of households in rural areas experiencing fuel poverty compared to 11.1% in urban areas. Constituents like Roy face significant challenges due to the rising cost of kerosene, with prices increasing from £1 per litre in June 2022 to an estimated 71p per litre in April and 81p in March.
Craig Blunt
Con
Rother Valley
The hon. Member is right that the government's response has been too slow, particularly for pensioners who have no additional means to pay upfront for fuel costs.
Helen Morgan
Lib Dem
North Shropshire
Some households have not received payments due to difficulties with their electricity supplier or landlord, causing hardship in rural areas. The most vulnerable people who pay for energy up front are still waiting for government support. Many people might not be able to access the online portal for support. Constituents have come asking about this, and while they are pointed in the right direction, there will be others who are unaware of the availability of that support due to their inability to get online.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Commends the debate on fuel costs and highlights the issue of rural isolation compounded by rising fuel costs, affecting young farmers' ability to attend events due to resource constraints.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Congratulates the debate's importance and points out excessive fuel costs in rural areas for both heating homes and travel. Criticizes the limited reach of the rural fuel duty relief scheme, calling for expansion to benefit more communities. The Minister is urged to consider a special package for hospices, which have seen a 350% increase in fuel bills. These establishments cannot turn down heating like other businesses can, so they require targeted support.
Government Response
Amanda Solloway
Government Response
The Government has implemented several schemes to assist rural households and communities affected by high energy costs, including the alternative fuels payment for those using oil or LPG as their main heating source. Over 85% of relevant customers in Great Britain received this payment automatically via electricity suppliers in February 2023. For non-domestic users such as off-grid homes and park home residents, an additional £400 support is available through the energy bills support scheme alternative funding until May 31st. The Energy Price Guarantee helps to lower annual bills for domestic customers by reducing electricity and gas costs. This will be maintained at £2,500 from April to June providing more savings. Additionally, a further £7.3 billion of support is available through the energy bill relief scheme until March. However, due to high ongoing costs, this programme will end in March with non-domestic customers receiving continued assistance via the Energy Bills Discount Scheme from April onwards.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.