Responding to the Government's changes to heating oil regulation, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick has called for an immediate heating oil cap to be introduced.

The government has said it has promised heating oil customers better regulation of the sector. Ministers say they will tighten up rules, promote competition and give customers clearer compensation routes if things go wrong.

Across Wales as a whole, around 10% of homes rely on heating oil, representing close to 130,000 properties.

In response to the changes, MP David Chadwick said: “The Welsh Liberal Democrats have been sounding the alarm on this for years, warning successive governments that households off the gas grid were being left out in the cold, including a huge number in my own constituency.

"Whilst the Prime Minister has finally woken up to the desperate situation faced by thousands of people in rural Welsh communities and acknowledged the heating oil rip-off, this is classic too little, too late.

“Tackling rogue suppliers is the bare minimum. It does nothing to help rural families who are already in fuel poverty and seeing their bills skyrocket through no fault of their own.

“Ministers cannot keep treating off-grid communities like an afterthought. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have fought relentlessly for fair treatment for heating oil customers - the Government must listen, stop dragging its feet, and urgently introduce a heating oil price cap before another winter of soaring bills unfolds on Labour’s watch.”