Eat or heat Gas crisis could mean stark choice for those on low wage

SFor people in Bristol already struggling to make ends meet, this will be particularly desperate. This is just the latest crisis to hit people on low incomes in Bristol, who are already writing to me about rising food prices in the shops and rocketing energy bills MP Thangam Debbonaire

TRUGGLING households in Bristol could have to “decide between eating or heating their homes” this winter as the gas price “crisis” hits, MPs have warned.

The Labour MP for Bristol West, Thangam Debbonaire, said the carbon dioxide shortage could result in food prices rising in supermarkets, at a time when energy bills are already increasing.

In addition to the £20 cut to Universal Credit, the Bristol West MP is concerned about how people living on low incomes in Bristol will cope.

She said: “We are now being told that the CO2 shortage will make food shortages worse. Shortages often mean rising prices.

“For people in Bristol already struggling to make ends meet, this will be particularly desperate.

“This is just the latest crisis to hit people on low incomes in Bristol, who are already writing to me about rising food prices in the shops and rocketing energy bills.

“The ballooning cost of living comes on top of a £20 cut to Universal Credit – which will wipe more than £1,000 off the incomes of 11,000 people in my constituency – and a Tory tax rise that will hammer the lowest earners.”

Record-high gas prices resulted in two key fertiliser plants closing last week, and the loss of 60 per cent of the UK’s CO2 supply, as CO2 is a byproduct of their production.

Producers have warned that supplies of meat, poultry and fizzy drinks could all be hit due to a shortage of carbon dioxide.

CO2 is used by food and drink companies across the country, but with supplies dwindling, this could

A combination of food shortages due to a lack of HGV drivers, rising energy prices, rising rents and Government cuts to Universal Credit could have devastating consequences for some of the most vulnerable people in Bristol MP Kerry McCarthy

exacerbate problems for supermarkets already dealing with a lorry driver shortage.

Warnings have emerged about the potential for shortages on the shelves as the knock-on effect of the gas price rise.

Ms Debbonaire added: “The Government needs to get a grip on the crisis in food supply fast, before winter bites.

“If not, many people in Bristol could be forced to decide between eating or heating their homes.”

Kerry McCarthy, who represents Bristol East, is also concerned about the impact on the most vulnerable people in Bristol.

The Labour MP said: “A combination of food shortages due to a lack of HGV drivers, rising energy prices, rising rents and Government cuts to Universal Credit could have devastating consequences for some of the most vulnerable people in Bristol.

“It is clear the Government needs to act urgently to ensure that rising energy costs and prices of everyday goods do not leave vulnerable people destitute.”

On Tuesday afternoon, ministers struck a deal with the major carbon dioxide supplier to restart production at the closed fertiliser plants, the Mirror reports, to avert major shortages in the food industry.

Energy bills are set to increase next month as the energy price cap – the amount Ofgem allows firms to charge customers on certain tariffs – will rise.

From October 1, those on default tariffs paying by direct debit face an increase of £139, rising from £1,138 to £1,277.

Prepayment customers will see a higher increase of £153, taking their annual bill from £1,156 to £1,309, according to Ofgem data.

Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng told the House of Commons on Monday: “I must stress that protecting consumers is our number one primary focus and will shape our entire approach to this important issue.

“Secondly, I also want to reassure the House that while the UK like other countries in Europe has been affected by global prices, Britain benefits from having a diverse range of gas supply sources.

“We have sufficient capacity, and more than sufficient capacity, to meet demand and we do not expect supply emergencies to occur this winter.

“There is absolutely no question of the lights going out or people being unable to heat their homes.

“There will be no three-day working weeks or a throwback to the 1970s. Such thinking is alarmist, unhelpful and completely misguided.”