Yorkshire coast MPs call for swift action to tackle ‘excessive’ heating oil price increases

​The Members of Parliament for Scarborough and Whitby and Thirsk and Malton have called for “urgent action” to tackle oil price gouging following concerns about sharp price increases since the Iran war began.

​This week, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said the Government would “not tolerate” energy firms profiteering from the rising price of oil.

​The Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) has said it will “counter any suggestions of profiteering” at a meeting on Friday.

​Alison Hume, the Labour MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said: “The domestic heating oil market is uncapped and unregulated. Now we’re seeing the consequences of that play out.

​“That’s why, together with fellow members of the Labour Rural Research Group, I asked the Chancellor to take urgent action on price gouging for heating oil.”

​Ms Hume said: “It was good to hear Rachel Reeves tell Parliament that a meeting with officials would take place after we relayed both our concerns and those of the people we were elected to represent to her.

​“I’m grateful for the Treasury’s swift response.”

​Kevin Hollinrake, the Conservative MP for Thirsk and Malton, this week joined more than 50 Conservative MPs and the Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch, in signing a joint letter to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), urging it to investigate pricing practices in the heating oil supply market.

​He said: “Heating oil is widely used across North Yorkshire, particularly in rural communities where many homes are not connected to the gas grid, and families have little choice but to rely on oil to heat their homes.

​“I have been extremely concerned to hear reports from across the country of customers having existing delivery bookings cancelled, only to be called back the same day and offered the same delivery again at nearly double the original price.”

​The letter, co-signed by Mr Hollinrake, states: “We have been contacted by constituents who have experienced behaviour from suppliers that can only be described as blatant profiteering.”

​It adds that “in many rural areas, households are served by a single local supplier with no realistic alternative to compete with”.

​On Thursday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “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.”

​He added: “This government stands with working people, no matter the headwinds.”