A £10 billion package of help with fuel bills and the cost of living targeted at those on lowest incomes could be announced as soon as Thursday, I am told.
No final decisions have been made, but the prime minister wants to reset his administration before the Queen’s Jubilee parliamentary recess and after the publication tomorrow of Sue Gray’s report into Downing Street parties – which is expected to be damaging to the PM’s reputation.
The rise of energy costs would mean that in England alone, just under 10 million households would suffer from ‘fuel stress’
The expected acceleration of new Treasury support for the poorest follows today’s announcement by the energy regulator Ofgem that energy bills are likely to rise a further £800 in the autumn to around £2,800 per household on average.
This rise would mean that in England alone, just under 10 million households would suffer from ‘fuel stress’ – meaning they would be shelling out 10 per cent or more of all their net income on energy – according to new research by the Resolution Foundation.
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