More than £50m in Government support has been announced to help low-income families struggling with rising heating oil costs because of the conflict in the Middle East.
The funding targets households, particularly in rural areas, that rely on oil rather than mains gas and are therefore more exposed to sudden price increases.
The surge in prices has been driven largely by global instability, with kerosene—commonly used for heating oil—rising sharply and, in some cases, costing significantly more than other fuels.
Under the scheme, £27m will go to England, £17m to Northern Ireland, £4.6m to Scotland and £3.8m to Wales. Local authorities in England will distribute support through the new Crisis and Resilience Fund from April.
