Ben Maguire takes Bodmin Moor heating oil fears to Parliament

A tank of heating oil once cost around £400. In some North Cornwall villages the same tank now costs well over £1,000, and with winter starting, families who live off the gas grid have very few other options.

Ben Maguire, the Liberal Democrat North Cornwall MP, took those concerns to the House of Commons on Wednesday (4 November). He asked the Government for urgent support for off-grid households, warning that many rural families face what he called a “long and perilous winter” after prices soared.

Constituents “inundated” him with emails

Ben spoke in a debate on heating oil prices in rural areas, led by fellow Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone.

He told MPs he had been “inundated” with emails from constituents since March. All of them were worried about how they would afford to heat their homes this winter.

He said that in some of North Cornwall’s most rural villages, including St Breward and Blisland around Bodmin Moor, up to 97% of households are not on the mains gas grid. According to Ben, the cost of a tank of heating oil has gone from around £400 to between £1,200 and £1,500.

Why off-grid homes have fewer options

Households on mains gas have the price cap and can switch suppliers. Off-grid homes have neither of those. The release also points out that many of these homes have no realistic short-term way to move to electric heating or solar.

Rural LPG users are in a similar position. They have to keep paying for costly tank refills because they have no other way to keep their homes warm through the winter.

What the MP asked the Government to do

Ben asked the Minister to:

• extend the removal of standing charges on domestic gas bills so it also covers electricity
• bring in a price cap on heating oil and LPG
• introduce a month with zero VAT on heating oil
• give rural households extra support to insulate and upgrade their homes

In his own words

Speaking after the debate, Ben Maguire said: “I have been inundated with pleas for help with heating oil prices from constituents who are terrified about how they will get through this winter. Their oil costs have almost tripled for many households, and people who have lived off the mains gas grid all their lives cannot just switch to a cheaper provider or install solar panels overnight.”

He added: “The Government must act now. I’m calling for [a] price cap on heating oil and LPG, as well as a break from VAT and proper support to insulate rural homes to make a real difference.”

You can read his full contribution in the Hansard record of the heating oil prices debate.