Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil has submitted a Written Question to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Jacob Rees-Mogg, asking for detail on how off-grid energy users can access the £100 additional support payment.

Mr MacNeil has been contacted by constituents who are concerned about ordering fuel prior to receiving funding support.

The funding was announced by the UK Government earlier this month to offer targeted support for off-grid households with energy costs this winter, however no further details have been announced.

Mr MacNeil had previously written to the UK Government asking for details of support for off-grid households and was told that the £400 rebate announced would come off electricity bills and would be accessed by households that way. The additional £100 is a top-up to the £400 payment, which is going to all UK households.

The written question states:

1.    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy how oil customers will access the £100 one-off support payment towards their energy bills this winter?

2.    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what more can be done above the £100 to help off-grid energy users have parity of support with those in area of grid gas, oil and gas central heating as well as bottled propane?

Mr MacNeil said: “Any additional support for households is to be welcomed but this does not in any way go far enough.  So far there has been no clarity given on when or how this will be received. The majority of homes in Na h-Eileanan an Iar are off-grid and will be entitled to this additional support. The UK Government needs to make this clear.

“As the economic crisis facing the UK deepens, it’s never been clearer that Westminster is failing Scotland and independence offers the only way for Scotland to build a better future for everyone.”