David Jones, the Conservative MP for Clwyd West, said he and his colleagues will be watching carefully to assess whether the support is truly comparable and will be making such representations as necessary. In response, Mr Rees-Mogg said that the price of heating oil has not risen as much as the price of gas, and therefore the aim of government policy is to ensure equivalence, and therefore the support for those on heating oil will need a lower actual amount than those connected to the gas grid, but that will give them equivalence. Tim Farron, the former Liberal Democrat leader, said it seemed only to be 100, which is woeful when you think that oil users are paying 1 k a year more. Gordon Lyons, Stormont Economy Minister Gordon Lyons said he did not believe that the offer would cut it in any way, shape or form, while SDLP leader Colum Eastwood described the payment as an insult, Vicky said it had been a huge struggle to afford the increase and the family had stopped eating out and going on holiday to make up for it.
Vicky also owns three holiday homes, which are the family's only income and are heated by oil. These have been hit by huge price increases and are not protected by the energy price cap for businesses.
A government spokeswoman said households off the gas grid, such as those using heating oil or those who don't benefit from the gas element of the cap on household energy bills, would get a payment of 100.