Sturgeon tells of ‘extreme concern' over price rises

FIRST Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she is “extremely concerned” about the rise in energy prices and its impact on consumers as the Universal Credit uplift ends.

- LUCINDA CAMERON

Sturgeon said she has concerns about the “significant impact” it may have on domestic consumers particularly when some of the poorest families in the country will see their benefits cut.

She will be chairing a meeting of the Scottish Government committee later today to discuss the issues.

The energy price cap is set to rise by £139 a year to £1277 for a typical gas and electricity customer from October 1, while the UK Government’s “uplift” in Universal Credit, intended as a temporary measure during the coronavirus pandemic, ends on October 6.