Northern Ireland households must swiftly benefit from additional energy support measures announced by Prime Minister – Andy Allen MLA

Ulster Unionist Party Communities Spokesperson Andy Allen MLA has welcomed the measures outlined by the Prime Minister to support households impacted by soaring energy costs, but has urged the Prime Minister to ensure that it is swiftly delivered to Northern Ireland. 

Mr Allen said:

“The additional measures announced today by the Prime Minister are welcome, however, in the absence of an Executive it is imperative these measures are swiftly delivered to Northern Ireland.  

“The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Jacob Rees-Mogg MP, has stated that the same level of support will be made available to households in Northern Ireland.

“However the important question is how will it be delivered and when? As we already know when equivalent support under the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme was announced by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak MP, it took several months before minds were focused on delivering this scheme to Northern Ireland, with households still in the dark as to when they will receive it. The same cannot happen with these support measures. 

“Households across Northern Ireland, many of whom are beyond crisis point, are not in a position to wait. In the absence of an Executive this support needs to be swiftly made available to the people of Northern Ireland. With each passing day that the support is not delivered here, it will result in more people coming to harm.”