Britain lags other nations in cost-of-living crisis amid energy price hikes

The UK government has been shamed by peers in countries like Belgium, Spain and France, which have offered more government support to help those coping with energy price hikes

Our government has lagged behind others in dealing with rising energy bills.

UK has £200 discount energy bills per apartment only comes in October and must be repaid in later years.

The other main part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak The aid package announced just last month is a £150 tax refund campaigners say some low-income families will miss out on.

Other countries in Europe have shamed the government and announced aid plans back in September.

France

In September, Emmanuel Macron’s government said gas price increases would be capped at 12.6% from October 1, similar to Ofgem’s price cap on dual-fuel products at the time.

But France also limited the increase in electricity costs to 4%, with largely state-owned supplier EDF offering special prices.

Spain

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez pledged to remove taxes from home electricity bills by May, which are paid for by a utility windfall tax, and to extend the grace period before energy companies can shut down homes.

Belgium

In early February, it announced a temporary tax cut and gave households cash to offset rising energy prices.

VAT on electricity has been reduced from 21% to 6% from March 1st to July 1st and all households will receive a one-off electricity bill rebate of 100 euros (£84).

Netherlands

The Government said in October that each household would receive 430 euros (£360) to offset the price hike by cutting energy taxes.

This was followed recently by confirmation of plans to temporarily reduce taxes on fuel and energy, with Prime Minister Mark Rutte not ruling out further aid.

Germany

In late February, Germany’s coalition parties agreed on a package of around €13 billion (£11 billion) of measures to help households deal with rising energy prices, including scrapping a surcharge on electricity bills to support green electricity.

Italy

Last month, the government approved around €6bn (£5bn) worth of measures, including cuts in energy bill taxes, to help consumers and businesses.

It has also spent £8.4bn since July to keep bills down.

Italy’s energy regulator increased electricity prices by 55% and gas prices by 42% earlier in the year.