Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has acknlowedged that people living in the north will be hit hardest by the soaring energy prices this winter. 

York Central Labour MP Rachael Maskell has told the House of Commons today that the colder winter weather up north will result in people who live there having their heating on higher temperatures or running for longer.

Ms Maskell said: “The rise in energy prices will disproportionately impact people living in the North because it is colder during the winter in the North.

“So what assessment has he made of the regional disparities and how is he going to mitigate against that?”

In reponse, Mr Kwarteng said: 

“I think the honourable lady raises a very fair point and clearly in terms of the gas price the single most important determinant of it is the weather, and she’s absolutely right.

“That’s why we’ve got schemes like the Warm Home Discount and that’s why we’re absolutely focused on protecting the most vulnerable customers, wherever they are in the UK.”

Mr Kwarteng insisted that a solution to the energy crisis will be found and said the Government had “not been complacent” as suppliers collapsed.

The Bolton News: Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng in the House of Commons today (Credit: PA)Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng in the House of Commons today (Credit: PA)

It comes after Business Minister Paul Scully told Sky News on Thursday that they were in talks with companies and regulator Ofgem to review the price cap. 

“We’ve had lots of conversations ... with companies themselves, with Ofgem, in reviewing that price cap we clearly want to protect customers,” Mr Scully said.

“We need to make sure we are planning for the worst-case scenario, because we want to make sure we can protect consumers.”

Global gas prices are skyrocketing, casusing many energy companies to be in trouble. 

The price cap is due to rise to 12 per cent in October but many companies are calling for the energy price cap to be scrapped to allow them to charge customers more for their energy usage.

Utility Point, People’s Energy, PFP Energy, MoneyPlus Energy, HUB Energy and Avro have already entered administration and Bulb are in talks to secure funding. 

Almost 1.5 million customers face switching energy companies with potentially bigger bills after their suppliers failed.