Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Cost of Living: Worsley and Eccles

Tuesday 28 April 2026 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Michael Wheeler asked the Minister about steps taken to help constituents with the cost of living in Worsley and Eccles.
  • The Minister noted that the energy price cap was reduced by 117 a year, on average, due to recent Budget decisions.
  • The Minister highlighted efforts to de-escalate the conflict in Iran, emphasizing the Government's role in trying to reduce tensions rather than escalating them.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Michael Wheeler Lab Worsley and Eccles
Economy Energy
Context

The question stems from concerns about the cost of living in Worsley and Eccles constituency, particularly regarding energy bills.

Question

What steps she has taken to help support people with the cost of living in Worsley and Eccles constituency. Thanks to decisions made in the Budget, the energy price cap reduced by £117 a year, on average, in April.

Answer from Rachel Reeves

The Government are committed to improving living standards for people across the UK. Thanks to decisions I made in the Budget, the energy price cap reduced by £117 a year, on average, in April. We have extended the cut in fuel duty twice, and introduced an anti-profiteering framework to protect working people from unfair price rises during the Iran conflict.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide specific steps for food prices or other cost-of-living issues beyond energy bills.

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Q2 Michael Wheeler Lab Worsley and Eccles
Brexit Energy
Context

The question follows up on concerns about the impact of the Iran conflict on food prices, highlighting specific pressures like oil and fertiliser costs.

Question

I strongly welcome the steps that the Government have taken to bring down my constituents' energy bills from the start of this month. However, the effects of the war in Iran are now beginning to feed through into higher food prices. Pressures on oil and fertiliser costs are likely to intensify, and I am concerned about increases in the price of my constituents' weekly shop at a time when their budgets are already strained. Will the Chancellor outline what steps the Government have taken to protect my constituents in Worsley and Eccles from rising food prices?

Answer from Rachel Reeves

My hon. Friend speaks powerfully on behalf of his constituents. The response of this Government during this conflict is, first, to try to de-escalate it. This is not a war that we started, and it is not a war that we joined. Unlike the Conservatives and Reform, we are working to de-escalate, not ramp up, the conflict, and that is the best way to keep prices down. As long as the conflict persists, we will do everything in our power to be both responsive and responsible in the national interest, which is why we are keeping energy bills down and why we have provided £53 million of support for people who need heating oil.

Not addressed: Did not address rising food prices or specific steps taken by government to mitigate this issue.

How: Changed Subject Entirely Without Addressing The Question

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