Budget set to cut energy bills for poor

Downing Street today gave the strongest hint yet that the chancellor would stop energy companies making an alleged £400m in excess profits from some of the poorest consumers in the UK.

The prime minister's official spokesman said that ministers were "naturally concerned" about rising energy prices and the effect they can have on "vulnerable consumers".

It follows suggestions in today's Financial Times that Alistair Darling would announce, in Wednesday's budget, his plan to control the tariffs paid by 3.8 million electricity customers and 2.8 million gas customers who use pre-payment meters.

The spokesman said he did not want to "pre-empt the budget" but he added: "The prime minister and the chancellor have repeatedly made clear their concerns about higher energy prices."

The spokesman was then asked whether the prime minister was "concerned" by the level of pre-budget briefing.

It was a mischievous question, which prompted laughter from the assembled journalists, but failed to illicit a credible response from No 10.

At the heart of it was the notion of purdah - a period of silence prior to the budget designed to ensure that its contents remained secret until the chancellor delivered his speech to the House of Commons.

In reality, it is a practice that has all but ceased. Today, only the most market sensitive information remains under wraps until the big day.

 

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