Speeches by Robinson.

“William, there was a hiatus last Tuesday, really, but what support do you envisage coming forward, either at Northern Ireland Executive level or in Whitehall?”

“I just want to stop you now because colleagues sometimes feel that, when I ask a short question, the answer that is given steals their thunder in terms of asking the next question. On prepaid meters, I just want to make this point. It angers me when you are out and about in the community and somebody has run out of mon…”

“You do not get the benefit of the agricultural relief if you are dual-use.”

“They are not mutually exclusive. It is a political decision, then, to be agreed between UK Government and the European Union.”

“But it is well worth pursuing and worth a 20% reduction on day-ahead prices.”

“Yes, and receiving VAT on top of that again, so we have a duty differential that is higher in the United Kingdom, but there is also increased VAT on the increased cost that consumers and businesses are paying.”

“David, you might not feel it, but from your perspective, unlike the other gentlemen, there has been some Government intervention on home heating oil across the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland disproportionately benefited, but it is not a huge amount. I think you can acknowledge that, as can I. What are you calling…”

“I suspect that there are many more than 40 people sitting annoyed about the price change.”

“I spoke to a taxi driver last week who just indicated to me that personally, as a self-employed person, he was spending £500 more per month to keep his car on the road. One of my colleagues was speaking to a gentleman who was delivering animal feed as a haulier, and he said their small firm operating in Tyrone was payi…”

“Yes, and receiving VAT on top of that again, so we have a duty differential that is higher in the United Kingdom, but there is also increased VAT on the increased cost that consumers and businesses are paying.”

“You said there September, October and November. When we met five weeks ago, when we were talking about resolution within a week or two, you were saying this would stretch well into the autumn. We are now five weeks on and there is still no sign of a resolution. You said autumn five weeks ago; are you now saying autumn …”

“That brings me to a point I think you were trying to open up earlier, which is what Government can do and the outlier impact. You say “outlier”; a number of European countries have brought forward support packages, for example. Hauliers have been the beneficiary. Agriculture has been a beneficiary of that. Consumers ha…”

“I spoke to a taxi driver last week who just indicated to me that personally, as a self-employed person, he was spending £500 more per month to keep his car on the road. One of my colleagues was speaking to a gentleman who was delivering animal feed as a haulier, and he said their small firm operating in Tyrone was payi…”

“Thank you. That is quite stark.”

“William, there was a hiatus last Tuesday, really, but what support do you envisage coming forward, either at Northern Ireland Executive level or in Whitehall?”

“David, you might not feel it, but from your perspective, unlike the other gentlemen, there has been some Government intervention on home heating oil across the United Kingdom, and Northern Ireland disproportionately benefited, but it is not a huge amount. I think you can acknowledge that, as can I. What are you calling…”

“You do not get the benefit of the agricultural relief if you are dual-use.”

“At the moment there is an issue around red diesel, which I raised with the Chancellor six weeks ago. Red diesel can be used agriculturally off road, and I think with the ability to travel on road for about 15 miles. I was told that the reality of that is that, for contractors moving from field to field to assist with s…”

“You said there September, October and November. When we met five weeks ago, when we were talking about resolution within a week or two, you were saying this would stretch well into the autumn. We are now five weeks on and there is still no sign of a resolution. You said autumn five weeks ago; are you now saying autumn …”

“Are you saying that the announcement that was made last Tuesday was already there and it is, in real terms, less than what was there the previous year?”