Richard challenges PM to end off-grid support delay

Today at Prime Minister’s Questions, Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton & Honiton Richard Foord challenged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to finally deliver the support for off-grid homes that was promised back in September but has still yet to be delivered. 

In his first question direct to the Prime Minister, Richard Foord highlighted that over 40,000 homes in Devon were off-grid and relied upon heating oil or other fuels to keep warm – something the MP branded ‘the rural equivalent of pre-payment meters’.  

The Alternative Fuel Payment was first announced in September 2022 ostensibly to help people get through the Winter. However, the roll out of this payment has been fraught with delays and has still yet to be delivered. 

Just recently, the Government announced a further delay to the scheme due to issues with the registration system. This means the £200 payment will not be delivered until Spring 2023. 

The Liberal Democrat MP accused the Government of ‘totally letting down’ his constituents and called for the Prime Minister to step in and help deliver this much-needed support. 

Speaking after PMQs, Richard Foord MP said: 

“People who live off-grid are effectively on the equivalent of rural pre-payment meters and need to stump up the cash in advance to be able to turn the heating on. 

“Yet because of the Government’s constant delays to the Alternative Fuel Payment, tens of thousands of people across Devon have been left shivering in the cold this Winter. 

“Their repeated failure to deliver this vital support to off-grid homes shows just how little the Conservatives care about communities like ours and that they’re continuing to take us for granted. 

“People have been waiting long enough. It’s clear that we need the Treasury to release this money urgently and get it to the people who have been calling for help for months.  

“Today I gave the Prime Minister the opportunity to commit to doing this, but he showed his disinterest in areas like ours by failing to set a date it to happen. 

“It was minus three degrees in the West Country this morning. I will continue to push the Government to deliver on their promise and get those living off-grid the help they deserve.” 

Today at Prime Minister’s Questions, Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton & Honiton Richard Foord challenged Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to finally deliver the support for off-grid homes that was promised back in September but has still yet to be delivered. 

In his first question direct to the Prime Minister, Richard Foord highlighted that over 40,000 homes in Devon were off-grid and relied upon heating oil or other fuels to keep warm – something the MP branded ‘the rural equivalent of pre-payment meters’.  

The Alternative Fuel Payment was first announced in September 2022 ostensibly to help people get through the Winter. However, the roll out of this payment has been fraught with delays and has still yet to be delivered. 

Just recently, the Government announced a further delay to the scheme due to issues with the registration system. This means the £200 payment will not be delivered until Spring 2023. 

The Liberal Democrat MP accused the Government of ‘totally letting down’ his constituents and called for the Prime Minister to step in and help deliver this much-needed support. 

Speaking after PMQs, Richard Foord MP said: 

“People who live off-grid are effectively on the equivalent of rural pre-payment meters and need to stump up the cash in advance to be able to turn the heating on. 

“Yet because of the Government’s constant delays to the Alternative Fuel Payment, tens of thousands of people across Devon have been left shivering in the cold this Winter. 

“Their repeated failure to deliver this vital support to off-grid homes shows just how little the Conservatives care about communities like ours and that they’re continuing to take us for granted. 

“People have been waiting long enough. It’s clear that we need the Treasury to release this money urgently and get it to the people who have been calling for help for months.  

“Today I gave the Prime Minister the opportunity to commit to doing this, but he showed his disinterest in areas like ours by failing to set a date it to happen. 

“It was minus three degrees in the West Country this morning. I will continue to push the Government to deliver on their promise and get those living off-grid the help they deserve.”