Posted: Sat 5th Nov 2022

Secretary of State for Wales admits £100 not generous for off-grid customers

News and Info from Deeside, Flintshire, North Wales
This article is old - Published: Saturday, Nov 5th, 2022

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The new Secretary of State for Wales has admitted that the financial help offered to ‘off grid’ households is not generous enough. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Many rural areas are off the mains energy grid and homeowners rely on alternative sources such as oil and Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) to keep their homes running. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The UK government is giving off-grid households an extra £100 on top of the £400 Energy Bill Support Scheme discount to help pay for oil and LPG. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Earlier this week, David TC Davies MP was questioned by MPs at his first appearance at the Welsh Affairs Select Committee since being put in post by the Prime Minister. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Following a question by Delyn MP, Rob Roberts on the financial support given by the UK Government to off-grid customers, Mr Davies said “I think that £100 was certainly not generous, given the circumstances” he went on to say that he’s sure that it’s “another factor the government will be looking at”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Mr Roberts then pushed the Welsh Secretary on the matter, stating that off-gird customers are found in larger numbers in Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Delyn MP then asked what representations Mr Davies’ office is able to make to the government on their behalf. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Secretary of State responded, saying “I will make representations about that given the percentage size in Wales of people of are off-grid”. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

He did note however, that the government are already well aware of the problem, and it is a matter that effects people in all rural areas across the UK. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Welsh Affairs Select Committee is responsible for scrutinising the expenditure, administration and policies of the Wales Office, and the policies of the UK Government. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Chaired by Conservative Stephen Crabb MP its membership consists of Members of Parliament from a range of parties and it meets weekly to discuss these issues. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Commenting after the committee, Mr Roberts has said: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I welcome Mr Davies comments about the support for off-grid customers. I have been contacted by lots of constituents concerned about the rising cost of their oil or LPG gas.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I accept that the Government has some difficult decisions ahead of it to balance the books, and that unfunded spending cannot continue. However, I urge the Government to consider what further financial support can be offered to these customers and act quickly to get the money into their pockets.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“More generally the meeting was very productive, and I look forward to working with the Wales Office to improve the lives of people living in Wales, and more specifically Delyn.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

[Photo: CPC Fuels] ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​


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