Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
£200 FOR OIL OF US
Hunt’s extra energy payment for every household in Northern Ireland
ALL households in Northern Ireland will get a £200 payment to help with energy costs.
It was originally due to be £100 when first announced in September, and was only intended for home heating oil customers.
But the UK Treasury says it will now go to all households “in recognition of the prevalence of alternative
fuel usage in Northern Ireland”. The payment will be provided as a credit to electricity accounts, but it is unclear when that will be.
It is in addition to a separate previously announced £400 credit, the Energy Bills Support Payment, but it is also yet to be confirmed when this will arrive in accounts.
Home heating oil customers make up two-thirds of households in Northern Ireland – a much higher proportion than the rest of the UK.
The £200 payment was announced as part of the UK government’s autumn statement.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told the House of Commons Northern Ireland will receive an additional £650million for public services, spread over two years in 2023-24 and 2024-25.
He also said £2million would be made available for a trade and investment event to take place in Northern Ireland next year. The Stormont Executive is currently facing a £650million overspend in this year’s budget.
Secretary of State Chris Heaton-harris is expected to make a statement on Stormont’s budget next week.
He said the economic challenges facing the UK were “further compounded in Northern Ireland, with the current lack of locally accountable leadership”.