DUP To Hold Treasury To Delivering Energy Payments

The Treasury is best positioned to deliver energy payments for households in NI, Economy Minister and DUP East Antrim MLA, Gordon Lyons, has said.

Speaking after a meeting with Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi, Lyons said: "A commitment was made in the House of Commons that the then Chancellor would deliver this payment to homes in Northern Ireland just as in the rest of the United Kingdom.

"In Great Britain the payment will be delivered directly from Treasury to the energy companies. I am glad today the Utility Regulator was able to outline a proposal to similarly deliver the scheme directly via our six Northern Ireland energy suppliers. This is the fastest and most straightforward path to deliver the payment.

"A taskforce is being established to take this forward. Time is the key pressure point. The Treasury needs to use the tools at their disposal to ensure this money is in people's pockets as quickly as possible. I was disappointed that more progress had not been made by Treasury officials ahead of today's meeting but remain determined to hold Treasury to their commitments."