MP for Penrith and The Border, Dr Neil Hudson, again stood up in the House of Commons today as part of his campaign to make sure those living in rural areas can keep warm this winter.
The Cumbrian MP is urging the Government to provide more support on energy costs for those who use heating oil, LPG, biomass or alternative fuels in their houses and businesses.
With the war in Ukraine and global inflationary pressures, the cost of fuels has risen dramatically and many people living off the gas grid in rural areas are falling through the cracks of Government support with the majority only being offered £100 to go towards their heating bills. A figure Dr Hudson has repeatedly said is not enough considering price increases and minimum orders of 500 litres of heating oil being mandated by companies.
In the Chamber today, Dr Hudson said the schemes needed bolstering and urged the Government to keep support measures under review moving forward so that families and businesses are provided for in the long-term.
A vocal advocate for energy bill support in rural areas, already Dr Hudson has spoken widely in Parliament, written to ministers, and provided tailored casework support for constituents struggling with spiralling costs.
Speaking afterwards Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border, said:
“I have stood up in the Commons, in Committee sessions and in the media time and again on this issue, urging Ministers to take note and increase the £100 payment currently being offered to those living and working off-grid urgently.
“Of course, I am both pleased and proud that our Conservative Government has brought in unprecedented measures to support people with their heating bills through the cost of living crisis, saving the average household hundreds of pounds this winter. However, I’m passionate that the voices of people in rural areas, such as ours, are taken into consideration when formulating national policy.
“I will continue to urge the incoming Government to go further and faster to make sure businesses and people living in rural areas, such as those in Penrith and The Border, are being treated the same as those in towns and cities on the gas grid.”
