North MP warns of 'crippling' heating oil costs as he secures Treasury meeting
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Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone has secured a meeting with Treasury ministers after warning that many of his constituents face "crippling" bills for heating oil.
The move is part of the Liberal Democrat MP's campaign to extend the energy price cap to off-grid domestic fuels such as heating oil and LPG gas to protect consumers from spiralling prices.
Speaking after the spring statement delivered by Chancellor Rishi Sunak, Mr Stone told the House of Commons that many of his off-grid constituents cannot afford to pay their heating bills. The problem was exacerbated, he said, by the colder temperatures typically experienced in the far north.
Mr Sunak responded that, as a rural MP himself – for Richmond in North Yorkshire – he appreciated the issue raised by Mr Stone and would be happy to arrange a meeting.
During the exchange, Mr Stone said: "The village of Altnaharra in my constituency is the coldest place in the UK every single winter. And a great number of households in my constituency rely on domestic fuel for their heating.
"They have absolutely no choice. And right now they are faced with crippling bills landing on their doorsteps.
"Would the Chancellor agree to me meeting with some of his ministerial team to look at different ways that we can tackle this precise problem, which is hurting my constituents in the coldest part of Britain very badly indeed?"
The Chancellor replied that he would be happy to hear suggestions from Mr Stone.
"I wanted to make sure that those off the gas grid still benefited from the energy package we put in place in February, and it will work on electricity meters, so that will happen," Mr Sunak said. "As a rural MP myself, I appreciate the issue that he raises and will happily arrange the meeting for him."
Mr Stone said later: “I am disappointed that the Chancellor did not announce any consumer protection for domestic fuel customers in his statement. This is a serious issue that cannot wait.
"I look forward to engaging with his Treasury colleagues at the very earliest opportunity to make sure that my off-grid constituents can afford to heat their homes going forward.”
Though most households in Scotland use gas or electricity for heating, around 129,000, mainly in areas deemed remote and rural, rely on oil.
