Heating oil prices

Early day motion 2947, tabled 11 March 2026 by Tim Farron (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 63 members.

That this House notes with concern the sudden and severe rise in heating oil prices as a result of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with prices almost trebling in a week; recognises that around a third of rural households rely on oil-fired heating and already face higher levels of fuel poverty; further notes that the cost of heating oil is not covered by Ofgem’s energy price cap and that households off-grid are therefore vulnerable to price spikes in the global energy market; calls on the Government to provide urgent targeted support for rural communities by introducing a three-month zero-rating of VAT on heating oil for residential homes and to develop a mechanism to protect households reliant on heating oil from sudden price rises, similar to the energy price cap; and finally further calls on the Government to reduce long-term energy costs by upgrading homes, starting with free insulation for low-income households and ensuring that all new homes are built to zero-carbon standards.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 57, Plaid Cymru 4, DUP 1, Independent 1.