Households who rely on heating oil will receive new support after the Government announced a package aimed at easing energy costs for rural communities.
The move follows action by Graham after dozens of residents across Beverley and Holderness contacted him about sharp increases in heating oil prices.
Ten days ago, Graham launched a campaign calling for Government action after hearing from households whose heating oil bills had doubled.
He raised the issue directly with ministers and questioned the Chancellor in Parliament about the impact of rising heating oil prices on rural communities.
At a packed meeting with Treasury minister Lord Livermore, Graham challenged ministers on whether the Government fully understood the scale of the problem facing off-grid households.
Following that meeting, he wrote to Lord Livermore setting out detailed evidence from constituents showing how dramatically heating oil prices had risen.
Examples included:
• Richard Hall from Dalton Holme whose tank cost £304 previously but is now expected to cost £862
• Peter Brown from Riston who was paying £650 but now expects to pay £1,268
• James from Withernwick who expects his next fill to rise to £1,596
The Prime Minister has now announced a £53 million support package for households dependent on heating oil. Funding will be distributed through local authorities to help households facing the biggest pressures.
Graham said:
“Many homes across Beverley and Holderness rely on heating oil to heat their homes.
“In recent weeks dozens of residents wrote to me about the sudden jump in prices.
“I raised their cases with ministers, questioned the Chancellor in Parliament and met Treasury minister Lord Livermore to press the Government on this issue.
“At that meeting the minister said the Government was still looking into whether heating oil was really a problem.
“So I wrote to him the next day with the evidence from my constituents.
“Having served as Energy Minister, I know how the system works and which levers need to be pushed.
“I’m pleased the Government has now recognised the issue and announced support for heating oil households.
“But rural families should not have had to wait this long for answers.”
Graham said the issue forms part of wider cost of living pressures facing rural communities, where households often rely on cars and off-grid heating.
In recent months he has also:
• launched a cost of living survey hearing directly from local families
• pressed ministers on rising heating costs in rural homes
• launched a petition to stop a fuel duty rise hitting rural drivers
• challenged the Prime Minister in Parliament over fuel prices
