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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Kate Devlin

UK monitoring risk of food and fuel shortages ‘hour by hour’

  • Housing secretary Steve Reed says there is no immediate need for petrol rationing, despite the government monitoring the escalating Middle East conflict "hour by hour" for potential food and fuel shortages.
  • Chris O'Shea, CEO of Centrica, which owns British Gas, warned that energy bill rises might be "inescapable" if the Middle East conflict continues, anticipating a greater impact on petrol prices than household electricity and gas bills.
  • O'Shea advocated for targeted government support for households and increased North Sea exploration to help manage energy costs.
  • Lord Walker of Broxton, the government's cost-of-living tsar, called for a temporary profit cap on energy companies and petrol retailers to prevent "profiteering" during the crisis.
  • Ministers are scheduled to hold an emergency meeting with the Bank of England governor to discuss plans to support households facing soaring living costs, with average annual energy bills predicted to rise by £332 in July.

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