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The Consumer Council has urged any passengers due to travel to or from Spain today to contact their airline before leaving for the airport. It has also produced a factsheet to help passengers understand their rights if travel plans are disrupted. Copies are available by contacting the Consumer Council on 0800 121 6022, by emailing info@consumercouncil.org.uk or via www.consumercouncil.org.uk/publications, facebook or twitter.

The Consumer Council has welcomed the news that a pilot Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) scheme for home heating oil has been introduced in Northern Ireland (NI). The scheme, operating in 20 homes in Dungannon, Camlough and Newcastle, allows consumers to buy the amount of oil they need, which is then released from the consumer’s oil tank. A meter installed in the home helps the householder keep track of how much they have spent. It is hoped that the scheme can enable consumers to budget for their home heating oil, without resorting to using 20 litre emergency oil drums.

A single department with responsibility for all energy matters, the radical reduction of Northern Ireland’s dependency on home heating oil, and renewable electricity-based heating for the south and west where gas networks may never reach, are just three of the recommendations of a new report on the energy industry in Northern Ireland. The independent report, ‘Energising Northern Ireland’, was commissioned by the Consumer Council and produced by former GB energy Minister, Lord Whitty.

The Consumer Council launched its new education resource ‘Understanding Payday Loans’ as part of World Consumer Rights Day today at Springvale Learning Centre. This comes against a backdrop of a 42 per cent increase in high interest lending since 2007 . ‘Understanding Payday Loans’ is the first consumer education resource in the UK that will help consumers get to grips with how payday loans operate and the costs associated with this type of borrowing. The lesson plans are primarily designed for adult education tutors and advice staff who are working with consumers in the community and voluntary sectors.

The Consumer Council has welcomed the news that the Programme for Government has been approved by the Northern Ireland Assembly.