Avoiding the sound of Jingle Bills
The Commons Trade and Industry committee has stated that the
recent rises in UK gas prices has lead to increased suffering by
many of the most exposed groups such as the elderly and,
"non-elderly vulnerable groups, particularly disabled people,
whose difficulties in relation to fuel poverty have been known
for a long time".
A lack of gas supplies from Europe, and dwindling North Sea
production has been blamed for the price increases by most of
the major energy suppliers leading to average bills being put up
by as much as 15% recently, with fears that costs are likely to
rise even higher if the UK experiences a cold winter.
The Committee report also added that: "If fuel prices continue
to rise it will be essential to provide further assistance to
the elderly."
The news also appears to be bleak for many non-elderly or
disabled groups, following research commissioned by Egg.
The results of research by the online bank Egg has shown that
the average household monthly income is just