A Somerset MP has spoken about the impact of rising oil prices on rural households.
Anna Sabine, who represents Frome and East Somerset for the Liberal Democrats, wants the government to take action to ensure heating oil remains affordable for those who rely on it to heat their homes.
In Parliament, Ms Sabine asked the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Energy Security and Net Zero to outline what steps the government will take.
She said: "In my constituency of Frome and East Somerset, approximately 10 per cent of houses use oil central heating, compared with five per cent nationally."
She said this places her constituents in a "particularly difficult position" as the winter months approach.
According to House of Commons Library data, based on the 2021 Census, Frome and East Somerset has a significantly higher proportion of homes dependent on oil heating than the national average.
Ms Sabine has previously hosted several cost-of-living surgeries across the constituency and said residents frequently raise concerns about the affordability of heating, energy bills, and basic household costs during the colder months.
She has vowed to continue pressing the government to safeguard access to affordable energy for rural communities.
She said: "People in Frome and East Somerset should not be forced to choose between heating their homes and other basic necessities.
"I’ll keep working to make sure their voices are heard and that action is taken to protect them from spiralling costs this winter."
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