The British government has come under pressure to clarify when the people of Northern Ireland will receive the £400 energy discount or the £100 heating oil payment.

Sinn Féin MLA Conor Murphy has penned a letter to the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy, Grant Shapps, on the issue.

Conor Murphy said: "It is now more than six months since people in the North were promised a £400 discount on their electricity bill. 

"This payment was rolled out to people in Britain last month, yet people here still don't know when they will receive their discount.

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"I told Grant Shapps that this delay is unacceptable and it's vital the £400 is now paid out in one lump sum rather than instalments."

The former Finance Minister also said that the two-thirds of people using home heating oil in the north were being treated less favorably than people using gas. 

"The British government has also failed to confirm when the £100 payment promised to people who use home heating oil will be delivered.

"Two-thirds of people in the North use oil to heat their homes. 

"I made it clear to the British Treasury in my previous role as Finance Minister that the £100 payment should be increased. I provided information that people using oil were being treated less favourably than those using gas.

"The DUP's blockade of the Executive has made it more difficult to get these schemes out the door.

"However, the British government agreed to take responsibility for these schemes and people urgently need this money now as we move deeper into winter."