Government must help heating oil customers, says SNP

20 August 2008

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has called for the government to offer greater protection for home heating oil customers.

Westminster energy spokesman Mike Weir noted that recent inflation figures have shown the cost of the fuel to have risen by 92 per cent.

"People in Scotland, particularly those in rural areas, are especially badly hit by the spiralling costs of liquid heating oil," he said, adding: "For far too long these consumers have simply fallen off the UK government's radar."

Mr Weir's comments come following recommendations by the Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform select committee, which stated that heating oil customers should be protected in the same way as those using gas and electricity.

This week the Economic Times reported that crude oil prices had risen amid speculation that production in the Gulf of Mexico would be disrupted by Tropical Storm Fay, less than a month after Tropical Storm Dolly shut down at least one refinery.

Click here for home heating oil price trends