HEATING OIL

That this House notes that a large number of people living in rural and off-gas communities rely on oil to heat their homes and is deeply concerned about those who were left without heating oil deliveries over Christmas during one of the coldest winters on record; further notes with concern that the price of home heating fuel has increased, in some cases by over 100 per cent. in the last two months, whilst the price of crude oil has increased by 10 per cent. over the same period, and condemns such actions by fuel companies, who are taking advantage of vulnerable people in the extreme weather conditions to make excessive profits; and calls on the Government to meet the oil companies and take tough, urgent and decisive action on this matter.