Tackling affordability is this government’s number one priority. The Government acted at last year’s Budget by taking on average £150 of costs off energy bills, with those decisions now factored into bills for the years to come.

The recent rise in the price cap announced by Ofgem will be deeply concerning news for families. That is why we are doubling down on our mission for clean power to get us off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel prices and onto clean, homegrown power to bring down bills for good.

In addition, around 6 million households in Britain will have benefitted from our expanded £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, which will remain in place for the rest of the decade. We understand that the developments in the Middle East are concerning: we will continue to monitor the situation ahead of the winter and plan for all contingencies.

The latest fuel poverty statistics, estimate that 13.8% of rural households were in fuel poverty in England in 2025, compared to 9.4% of households overall. The latest subregional fuel poverty statistics, estimate that 10.5% of households (4,824) in the West Dorset parliamentary constituency were living in fuel poverty in 2024. These both predate any impacts of the conflict in the Middle East.

While the outlook for prices is uncertain, the Government will do everything it can to help protect households facing these current fuel price spikes, and the Chancellor says she stands ready to act as we look towards the autumn and winter.

The Government is taking action to address food prices by working with the food industry on supply chain resilience, regulatory burden, and structural drivers of food costs. Measures already taken as part of wider efforts to reduce pressure on prices due to the Middle East conflict include tariff reductions on a variety of customer staples. The Government is developing plans to work with local authorities to support improved access to healthy and affordable food in areas in greatest need. Targeted support is available for lower income households through the recently uplifted Healthy Start, plans for extension of free school meals, and the Holiday Activity and Food Programme.

The Government is aware of the current price increase for fertiliser due to the conflict in the Gulf. Defra is assessing the impact on farmers of high prices, and impacts in the wider supply chain. Defra is working closely with the sector to understand risks and issues, and options for action where needed.

The Office for National Statistics does not publish inflation statistics at the level of individual constituencies such as West Dorset. At the UK level, consumer price inflation (CPI) for food and non-alcoholic beverages fell from 3.7% in March to 3.0% in April.

The Government is conscious of the increases to prices of red diesel and other fuel influenced by the continued instability in the Middle East. The Competition and Markets Authority has been asked to look into industry concerns about red diesel prices, including price transparency. The Government are determined to help keep costs down for our farmers. Red diesel continues to benefit from an 80% tax discount - saving farmers almost £300 million a year.

The Government’s commitment to farming and food security is steadfast, which is why it has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.

The Government is conscious of the increases to prices of red diesel and other fuel influenced by the continued instability in the Middle East. The Competition and Markets Authority has been asked to look into industry concerns about red diesel prices, including price transparency. The Government are determined to help keep costs down for our farmers. Red diesel continues to benefit from an 80% tax discount - saving farmers almost £300 million a year.

The Government’s commitment to farming and food security is steadfast, which is why it has allocated a record £11.8 billion to sustainable farming and food production over this parliament.

The Government is conscious of the increases to prices of red diesel/gasoil, influenced by the continued instability in the Middle East. The Competition and Markets Authority has been asked to look into industry concerns about red diesel prices, including price transparency. The Government are determined to help keep costs down for our farmers. Red diesel continues to benefit from an 80% tax discount - saving farmers almost £300 million a year.

Defra works with industry and across Government to monitor risks that may arise. This includes extensive, regular and ongoing engagement in preparedness for, and response to, issues with the potential to cause disruption to food supply chains. The UK Agriculture Market Monitoring Group monitors UK agricultural markets throughout the year, including price, supply, inputs, trade, and recent developments.

The Government has implemented the statutory open data scheme Fuel Finder, with all UK forecourts now required to report their latest fuel prices, helping to improve transparency and increase competitive pressure on fuel retailers. The Motor Fuel Price (Open Data) Regulations 2025, which provide the legal framework for the scheme, came into force in early 2026. These measures apply nationally, including in West Dorset.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance, including imposing financial penalties.

The CMA also has statutory information gathering powers to monitor the road fuel market and advise the Government if further intervention is required.

Fuel Finder is now live, with all petrol filling stations in the UK required to report their latest prices. Increasing price transparency will increase pressure on fuel retailers to compete strongly to attract consumers by lowering their prices, including in areas where competition has historically been weaker, such as rural areas.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance, including imposing financial penalties.

The CMA recent annual report found that competition has not strengthened since 2023, which was consistent with significant price variations within and between local areas. The CMA has statutory information gathering powers to monitor the road fuels market and will use Fuel Finder data to further assess regional pricing.

Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority (CMA). The Government and the CMA are closely monitoring petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East, and the Chancellor and Secretary of State recently met with fuel retailers to set out a clear message: unfair practices will not be tolerated.

We are also engaging regularly with refiners, importers and distributors to ensure any emerging risks are identified and managed promptly. The government has also introduced the statutory Fuel Finder, which will increase transparency for UK road fuel prices and the CMA have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance.

Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority (CMA). The Government and the CMA are closely monitoring petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East, and the Chancellor and Secretary of State recently met with fuel retailers to set out a clear message: unfair practices will not be tolerated.

We are also engaging regularly with refiners, importers and distributors to ensure any emerging risks are identified and managed promptly. The government has also introduced the statutory Fuel Finder, which will increase transparency for UK road fuel prices and the CMA have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance.

Fuel markets are governed by competition and consumer protection law, overseen by the Competition Market Authority (CMA). The Government and the CMA are closely monitoring petrol and diesel prices in light of instability in the Middle East, and the Chancellor and Secretary of State recently met with fuel retailers to set out a clear message: unfair practices will not be tolerated.

We are also engaging regularly with refiners, importers and distributors to ensure any emerging risks are identified and managed promptly. The government has also introduced the statutory Fuel Finder, which will increase transparency for UK road fuel prices and the CMA have the power to take enforcement action for non-compliance.

We are aware that increased input costs from fertiliser and energy have the potential to increase food prices in the medium to long term. Given this concern, we are closely monitoring the impacts of the conflict on food businesses and working with stakeholders to understand the implications for consumer prices.

The Government is aware that off-grid households have seen a sharp increase in heating oil prices due to volatility in international markets. Suppliers often have limited storage, buying daily on the spot market. These changes are then reflected immediately in the price consumers pay.

The Secretary of State has written to the industry reminding heating oil suppliers of their commitments under the UKIFDA Code of Practice, including the need for fair, transparent and justifiable pricing.

Following discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority, the CMA are launching a comprehensive examination of the heating oil industry. We will work closely with the CMA to understand findings and develop options to increase consumer protections in this sector.

The chancellor has announced £53m for low-income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. £27 million of this support is being provided to England, which will be distributed by Local Authorities via the Crisis and Resilience Fund.

The Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off‑gas‑grid areas, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is bought on the spot market, making it more exposed to short-term volatility in global oil prices, which we recognise is a significant concern for those reliant on it.

The Chancellor has announced £53m for low income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. This funding is allocated as part of the Crisis Resilience fund, and will be distributed by Local Authorities. More information can be found here: Over £50 million to help families struggling with soaring heating oil costs - GOV.UK.

In addition, the measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. On 30 January, we also announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.

The Government understands that many households, particularly in rural and off‑gas‑grid areas, rely on heating oil as their primary source of heat. Unlike gas and electricity, heating oil is bought on the spot market, making it more exposed to short-term volatility in global oil prices, which we recognise is a significant concern for those reliant on it.

The Chancellor has announced £53m for low income families, who heat their homes with oil to help tackle surging prices. This funding is allocated as part of the Crisis Resilience fund, and will be distributed by Local Authorities. More information can be found here: Over £50 million to help families struggling with soaring heating oil costs - GOV.UK.

In addition, the measures taken in the Autumn Budget reduce the cost of electricity and therefore benefit all households with a domestic electricity meter, including those not on the gas grid. On 30 January, we also announced the continuation of the Warm Home Discount scheme until 2030/31, providing around 6 million eligible households with the £150 rebate on their energy bills each winter.

The Government knows that more needs to be done to tackle the problem of energy debt. Too many families paid the price of our dependence on fossil fuels during the energy price crisis, and its impacts are still being felt – both by consumers who are in debt and those who are not.

In November 2025, Ofgem published an update of its Debt Strategy, setting out its near-term actions and priorities to support suppliers to reduce the level of debt in the sector and drive better engagement between consumers and suppliers to ensure that consumers in payment difficulty receive adequate support.

This included an update on its proposals for introducing a Debt Relief Scheme, which aims to tackle around £1bn of debt built up by some consumers during the energy crisis. Ofgem is currently considering responses to its latest consultation on the scheme.

The Government supports the innovative approaches being taken to seasonal tariffs aiming to make bills more affordable and is engaging with industry leaders to drive further progress.

Ofwat called on companies to conduct charging trials, such as seasonal tariffs, aimed at supporting affordability and other sustainability goals such as reducing demand and have amended their charging rules to make it easier to conduct trials.

Companies can design their charges to provide benefits and incentives in a range of ways. Ofwat regulates charging trials by requiring companies to set fair charges for all customers, and ensure all trials are consistent with good practice principles.

There are several trials taking place, or planned, across all companies between now and 2030. These trials could benefit consumers by making water bills more affordable for more households. Companies must consult with the Consumer Council for Water in developing their trials to ensure that the appropriate safeguards are in place ensuring vulnerable consumers are adequately protected or excluded from the trials.

Fuel price trends are monitored nationally and published in the Department’s weekly statistics on GOV.UK . The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) oversees market transparency and compliance and publish quarterly and yearly reports on Gov.UK.

To support consumers, the Government introduced a voluntary scheme for retailers to share real-time price data, improving visibility for motorists. Building on this, UK consumers will also be able to compare prices more easily through DESNZ’s upcoming open data Fuel Finder scheme, encouraging competitive pricing among retailers, and helping households who own a car save an average of around £40 a year.