Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of heating oil prices on off-grid households; and what support she plans to provide to ensure that rural communities reliant on heating oil are protected from rising energy costs this winter.

The Government recognises the particular pressures faced by rural and off-gas-grid households, including bulk purchases and exposure to sudden price movements. Recent heating-oil price rises have largely reflected higher wholesale costs. Earlier this year, £53 million of targeted support was announced for low-income households affected by higher heating-oil costs. We continue to monitor supply and prices and engage with industry to support resilient supply and fair pricing. The Government published its response to the Competition and Markets Authority’s study on 13 October and will regulate the heating-oil market for the first time, strengthening fair treatment, transparency, protections for vulnerable households and routes to redress while preserving competition and security of supply.