- On a visit to Belfast, the Prime Minister will set out his
commitment to protecting working people from unfair heating oil
practices or profiteering
- He will meet the First Minister, deputy First Minister and
leaders of the five main NI political parties to discuss what UK
Government is doing to make people better off in Northern Ireland
- Through a record Spending Review settlement, Northern Ireland
is already benefiting from government action to cut the cost of
living and create the conditions for growth
As global events continue to impact the daily lives of
communities across the UK, the Prime Minister is visiting Belfast
today (Thursday 12 March) to highlight his relentless focus on
cutting the cost of living for working people.
Recognising that the majority of households in Northern Ireland
rely on heating oil to heat their homes, the Prime Minister will
send the strong message to companies that prices must be fair,
transparent and justifiable, not inflated at the expense of
working people. If companies hike prices without justification,
the government will act, including through regulation.
Prime Minister said:
“Global instability has real impacts on the lives of working
people across the UK, and I know families in Northern Ireland are
worried about what the war in the Middle East could mean for
their finances – especially given so many households rely on
heating oil to heat their homes.
“Let me be clear: we will not tolerate profiteering or unfair
practices. If companies fleece customers or rip them off, we will
not hesitate to step in, and that includes on regulation.
“This government stands with working people, no matter the
headwinds. Today in Belfast I am spending my time meeting not
only the politicians making decisions in Stormont, but also the
people whose lives are shaped by conflicts abroad and the
approach we take at home.”
The Prime Minister will discuss what the UK Government is doing
to protect families from rising heating oil prices in his
meetings with Northern Ireland political leaders. The Government
has already asked the Competition and Markets Authority to look
urgently at extortionate prices and the Financial Secretary to
the Treasury has held further discussions with Northern Irish MPs
to explore further action we can take.
He will also set out his wider commitment to prosperity, security
and stability across the UK. That includes how his government's
approach is prioritising supporting working people with the cost
of living, with the average driver in Northern Ireland saving £89
from the fuel duty freeze and new open data Fuel Finder scheme,
and up to 140,000 people in Northern Ireland already benefiting
from the increased National Living Wage and the National Minimum
Wage.
Following his meetings with political leaders, the Prime Minister
will talk to members of the local community about how the UK
Government can support them with the cost of living.
