£100 oil payment ‘an insult’, says supplier

Unimpressed local fuel owner slams UK government’s support for homeowners

A LOCAL home heating oil supplier has said the £100 oil payment being suggested by the UK government for all homes in Northern Ireland is “an insult”.

Gerry Lilley, of Fuels and Lubricants in Enniskillen, said £100 will not go a long way this winter, especially for the most vulnerable.

“It’s nearly an injustice, to tell you the truth – that’s the way I would look at it,” said Gerry. “More so for pensioners and people who are more vulnerable.

“£100 worth isn’t going to last them very long, and if that is what they are offering for the wintertime, it is an insult.”

As a result of rising oil prices, Gerry said Fuels and Lubricants has seen an increase in smaller orders in recent weeks, although he contends prices in Fermanagh are some of the most competitive in Northern Ireland.

“We would find ourselves under a lot more pressure because we are having to deliver smaller amounts, and as a supplier I totally understand that people aren’t buying as much because of the price of it.”

He said this puts additional pressure on the business, as they are making more trips to customers buying small amounts instead of a larger order.

Gerry believes keeping prices high benefits those in government through taxes, and the major energy companies only, and he hit out at the excessive profits such companies are making while ordinary people struggle through a costof-living crisis.

“When you think back about six weeks ago, oil started to rise, and two days before it started to rise there was a meeting between the government and the energy companies, and big gas companies.

“That meeting was held to try and get the energy companies to take their profits down, but from that meeting oil prices went through the roof.”

Looking ahead to the coming winter months, Gerry admits it is hard to call what will happen as the oil industry is dealing with increases they have never dealt with before.

“The oil industry is uncertain for this winter. I don’t expect oil prices to come down – but don’t panic. Anything can happen, and the oil industry is vulnerable at the minute,” said Gerry, who sees a number of factors coming into the equation.

Gerry isn’t the only one who is sceptical about the £100 payment and its value, with Finance Minister Conor Murphy writing to the Chief Secretary of the Treasury asking for the scheme to be urgently reviewed.

Making the case for additional support, Minister Murphy said: “On Friday I met with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and conveyed my disappointment at the Chancellor’s failure to support those in need, help small businesses, and provide additional funding for public services.

“I reiterated how inadequate the home heating oil scheme is for people living here. Offering households a derisory £100 will not provide sufficient support for the 70 per cent of households here in the North who rely on oil to heat their homes.

“To try and progress this issue, I have written to the Chief Secretary providing information on the average annual energy bills in the North.

“The Westminster government must act now to expand the home heating oil scheme to ensure the citizens here are not disadvantaged.”