WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has urged the government to ensure that a support package aimed at people who heat their homes with oil or liquid petroleum gas is fair.
The government is rolling out a £50million package to help people who have been hit with higher-than-expected heating costs as the crisis in the Middle East causes a spike in oil and gas prices.
The package will run in parallel with the Crisis and Resilience Fund which helps people who are experiencing significant challenges coping with the cost of living.
Dame Harriett questioned the government in the House of Commons last week about how much will be allocated to support her constituents in West Worcestershire, many of whom live in rural areas that are not able to connect to the main gas network.
The MP also urged local people to come forward with any evidence that fuel companies are taking advantage of price hikes to charge exorbitant rates to refill oil and gas tanks.
Dame Harriett said: “I asked the Minister to give MPs much greater detail on how the support scheme will work and I am particularly concerned that the fund is not large enough to make sure everyone who needs it can get support.
“This seems to have been created to support those who come forward first just because their tanks are emptiest and I really don’t think many Government Ministers understand the challenges of living in a rural area and having to plan a heating oil purchase many months in advance.
“I am sure that some people will be partially relieved by this news, but I’ll be scrutinising the detail to make sure that my constituents are able to get support if they need it.”
