People in Northern Ireland need a firm commitment that the Energy Bill Support Scheme payments will be issued before Christmas, MPs have heard.

Asking an urgent question in the Commons, DUP MP Carla Lockhart (Upper Bann) said: “Whilst across GB, households have received their energy bills support payment, my constituents and people right across Northern Ireland have not.

“£400 has been dangled in front of them but remains beyond their grasp. The promise of an additional £200 in recognition of our dependence on heating oil also remains unpaid.

“The previous prime minister assured the people of Northern Ireland that a payment would be issued in November. Today November draws to a close and no payment.”

She insisted: “What we get from the Government is delay, doubt, different stories as to the type of scheme as each day passes”, adding: “It is not good enough. We need a firm commitment from the Government that this payment will be issued before Christmas.”

Business minister Graham Stuart has said he cannot see the Energy Bill Support Scheme payments being issued to Northern Ireland before Christmas.

Responding to the urgent question, Mr. Stuart said: “Energy is devolved. And I understand why her party is not part of that executive, but that has consequences and that meant that we did not start until August and we should not be doing this. The executive in Northern Ireland should be doing it.”

He added: “I met with CEOs of the energy suppliers last week, whatever she may have heard, they are not ready. Their systems do not allow the dispensing, the cashing out and I hope she agrees with me, I don’t want to see a stranded credit to an electricity account that people can’t access.

“I’ve insisted that we find a way to make sure that people can cash that out and use it to meet their heating oil bills this winter. That is my insistence.”

Mr. Stuart said he is “determined to find a way to ensure that we can allow cashing out this winter” but that he does not see “given the situation”, that “we are going to be able to stand that up before Christmas”.

He went on: “But we are aiming to stand that up in January if we possibly can. That is my aspiration and my aim and is what I’m seeking to achieve.”