Speaking from London, Carla Lockhart said:

“For weeks now £400 has been dangled in front of the people of Northern Ireland for the energy support payment. We have had the promise of an additional £200 in recognition of home heating oil costs, but as yet no payments have been issued.

In the House of Commons I challenged the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to assure my hard-pressed constituents that they will get their £400, and to provide a timescale for when they will get it. In response, the Minister acknowledged that there are complications in sending the payment to Northern Ireland recipients, but that she will write to me with further information. I await this correspondence with interest.

Ultimately the Government has to step up their efforts and get this payment out to households in Northern Ireland. It is time to hit the send button, and no further delay in acceptable. I will be keeping the pressure on the Government to deliver.”