Isles SNP MP Angus MacNeil is writing to the Chancellor demanding that all constituents in Na h-Eileanan an Iar receive the £200 additional support payment for households who are off-grid, as is the case in Northern Ireland. 

The Chancellor announced on Thursday that in recognition of the prevalence of alternative fuel usage in Northern Ireland, every household will receive the £200 payment, and on this basis, Mr MacNeil is calling for this to be applied to Na h-Eileanan an Iar where there are 12% more people using fuel such as heating oil than there are in Northern Ireland.

Currently, only eligible households in Scotland will receive the £200 payment and Mr MacNeil will continue to put pressure on the UK government to extend support to all households. 

Commenting Mr MacNeil said:

“If the Chancellor can decide to pay all fuel customers in Northern Ireland, a population of 1.8m people, the £200 off-grid additional support, then in the interests of fairness and equality not to mention his rhetoric on the “Union” then this must be applied to the people of Na h-Eileanan an Iar.

“This is particularly so as it was quite clear that the UK Government is struggling to work out when the money will be paid out.  When I challenged the Chancellor on Thursday, he simply couldn’t answer the question.  Therefore, the decision made for Northern Ireland fuel customers has to be made for Na h-Eileanan an Iar customers also.

“I will be writing to the Chancellor in these terms.  The fuel poverty in the constituency should mean that any Chancellor who claims to be compassionate will respond positively to this request.  Any other response from him other than to pay the £200 across the constituency will make his rhetoric seem very hollow indeed.”