The Ulster Unionist Party has cautiously welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of £53 million to ease rural energy bills, but warned that the funding falls far short of what struggling households require.

A party spokesperson said:

“The Ulster Unionist Party welcomes the Prime Minister’s announcement of £53 million support for rural energy bills. We await full details on how the funding will be allocated across the UK, but given Northern Ireland’s heavy reliance on home heating oil, we expect our households to receive the lion’s share on a pro rata basis.

“While £53 million is a welcome recognition of the crisis, it is a drop in the ocean compared with the vast fuel duty and VAT the Government collects daily. Much more must be done. A targeted scheme in partnership with the Executive would be ideal for those hardest hit, but given the urgent need, a universal approach would be faster and more effective for working families.

“When we met the Prime Minister last week we urged him to strengthen the Competition and Markets Authority so it can properly tackle profiteering by some energy companies. Today’s announcement only underscores the wider debate we must have on UK’s energy security. We cannot keep tying our hands by ignoring North Sea reserves. The Government must wake up to reality, the quickest route to genuine short term energy security is to begin issuing new licences now and to reinvest the resulting profits into green energy technologies for the long term. Working families cannot wait.”