Page 35 - Londra Gazete Sayı 1118

6 LondraGazete.com/English Londra Gazete, 11 August 2022

Fuel prices slowly falling in

the UK as recession fears

outweigh 'war premium'

PETROL and diesel prices are
slowly but steadily falling in the
UK, latest figures show.
The average price for a litre of
unleaded on Saturday, the latest
figure available, was 177.46p, ac-
cording to the RAC, while diesel
cost an average of 188.23p.
Ministers to meet energy been 178.93p and 189.3p respec-
On Thursday, the prices had

giants over cost of living tively.
It comes as world oil prices
fall, something analysts said was
MINISTERS will hold talks Almost a quarter of households due to fears that tough economic
with energy giants on Thursday owe £206 to energy firms, on av- times ahead could see a weaken-
to discuss measures to ease the erage, with the total debt owed by ing in demand.
cost of living. the public triple that of Septem- "Gains triggered by the inva-
Chancellor Nadhim Zahawi ber last year, according to a sur- sion of Ukraine have now been invasion. said: "Last week's price action left
and Business Secretary Kwasi vey of 2,000 households. cancelled out, as rising interest UK wholesale prices had risen no doubt that recession-driven
Kwarteng will meet bosses to dis- Forecasts predict average annu- rates and the subsequent cooling because of the wider scramble to demand concerns have the upper
cuss rising prices and the sector's al energy bills could rise to over this is expected to have on glob- secure more stocks, resulting in a hand over supply fears.
profits, The Sun reported. £4,200 by January - almost half al economies, outweigh previous litre of petrol hitting an average "One could even go as far as
Concerns over what will happen the basic state pension of £9,628 questions about a lack of supply of 191.43p and diesel 199.07p at saying the war premium has
this winter come as figures sug- this year. caused by the conflict." the beginning of July. evaporated."
gest many households are already Mr Johnson has faced growing Brent crude, the international But on Monday Brent crude fell Monday's fall came just days
in energy debt. criticism for not announcing fur- benchmark, had shot up to more to $93.38 a barrel, having last after the Bank of England
Tory leadership candidate Liz than $124 a barrel after the Eu- week hit its lowest point since warned that the UK was facing a
Truss dismissed calls to agree ther support beyond the £15bn ropean Union announced in May February, although it had risen 15-month recession, and as the
immediate plans to help those package set out in May, while the that it would ban most oil im- slightly to $94.47 by 2.30pm UK UK and the US both try to tame
struggling. government is under pressure to ports from Russia as part of its time. high - and rapidly climbing - in-
She told a hustings in Darling- do more to help with bills. sanctions package following the PVM analyst Stephen Brennock flation.
ton it would be "bizarre" to dis- But Education Secretary James
cuss potential policies with her Cleverly said any major support
rival Rishi Sunak and outgoing package would have to wait until UK government submits indyref2
Prime Minister Boris Johnson Parliament returns next month.
before the contest ends. Consumer expert Martin Lewis
Yet new figures from compari- has called on what he described argument to Supreme Court
son service USwitch laid bare the as the "zombie" government to
challenge facing Mr Johnson's "wake up" and put together a plan
successor. immediately. THE UK government has submit- competence, the UK government's
ted its argument in a case that could clear view remains that a Bill leg-
allow the Scottish Parliament to islating for a referendum on inde-
ONS: 16m cutting back on legislate for another independence pendence would be outside the leg-
referendum.
islative competence of the Scottish
The submission from the Advo-
food and essentials cate General comes ahead of a full parliament."
The Scottish government wants
hearing on the case in October. judges to settle whether MSPs could
SIXTEEN million people in and 77 per cent were hit by the- UK law officers argue the consti- legislate for a vote on Scottish in-
Britain have been forced to cut jump in fuel prices. tution is reserved to Westminster. dependence without Westminster's
back on food and other essentials Data from ONS found elderly Last month, the Scottish govern- backing.
because of the rising cost of liv- people and those with disabilities ment published its case, arguing the UK law officers argue this is pre-
ing, a survey revealed on Friday. were the most likely to be actively referendum is "advisory" and would mature, and want the case thrown
Some 24 million people also re- reducing their energy consump- have no legal effect on the union. out without a ruling either way.
duced energy use in their homes tion to avoid sky-rocketing bills. The hearing will take place in Lon- Supreme Court judges have said
between March and June 2022 More than half (55 per cent) don on 11 and 12 October when oral they want to hear the full argu-
as the price of gas and electricity of people with disabilities who arguments will be heard. ments from both sides before com-
reached record highs. were experiencing an increase in It is understood the UK govern- ing to a decision.
The findings from the Office of their cost of living reported cut- ment has asked for the Court's per- First Minister Nicola Sturgeon
National Statistics (ONS) show ting back, compared with half of mission to publish the submission wants to hold an independence vote
nine in 10 people noticed a rise in able-bodied people. by the Advocate General for Scot- on 19 October 2023, and is pushing
basic costs, reducing their capaci- Londoners appeared less likely land Lord Stewart QC. families, not talking about another for an agreement with the UK gov-
ty to save. than those in other regions to be A spokeswoman for the UK gov- independence referendum. ernment to allow this.
More than 90 per cent of peo- reducing their energy use with 41 ernment said: "People across Scot- "We have today submitted our UK ministers are opposed to this,
ple saw their food shop costs in- per cent reporting this change, land want both their governments written case to the Supreme Court, so Ms Sturgeon wants the Supreme
crease, while gas or electricity compared with 51 per cent over- to be working together on the is- in accordance with its timetable. Court to rule on whether Holyrood
bills had gone up for 82 per cent all. sues that matter to them and their "On the question of legislative alone has the power to hold a vote.