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| One-off fuel payment is ruled out | One-off fuel payment is ruled out |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ministers have ruled out giving consumers a one-off payment to help with fuel bills, the BBC has learned. | Ministers have ruled out giving consumers a one-off payment to help with fuel bills, the BBC has learned. |
| The government had planned to unveil a a package to alleviate soaring gas and electricity bills this week. | The government had planned to unveil a a package to alleviate soaring gas and electricity bills this week. |
| But Whitehall sources said the focus of ongoing talks with energy firms was now on improving energy efficiency, rather than securing immediate savings. | |
| In a speech, Prime Minister Gordon Brown said there would be no "short-term gimmicks or giveaways". | |
| Overheard | Overheard |
| It had been thought ministers were hoping to unveil a significant package of help with fuel bills, including payments of between £50 and £100 per head. | |
| This followed reports of a conversation involving the most senior civil servant at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) and energy companies. | This followed reports of a conversation involving the most senior civil servant at the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (DBERR) and energy companies. |
| The Sunday Times reported last month that Permanent Secretary Sir Brian Bender had been overheard by other passengers on a train discussing a plan to help "ordinary people" by creating "a fuel rebate for everybody on child benefit". | The Sunday Times reported last month that Permanent Secretary Sir Brian Bender had been overheard by other passengers on a train discussing a plan to help "ordinary people" by creating "a fuel rebate for everybody on child benefit". |
| Hopes that ministers might be about to give consumers one-off payments to help with their fuel bills are at an end Nick Robinson Read Nick's blog | |
| At the time Number 10 confirmed that discussions were ongoing but said that no decisions had been reached. | At the time Number 10 confirmed that discussions were ongoing but said that no decisions had been reached. |
| In his speech to the Scottish Conferderation of British Industry, Mr Brown said the government was working with utility firms "to address the problems caused by the impact of world oil prices on gas an electricity bills. | |
| "Not short-term gimmicks or giveaways - but firm steps towards making every home in Britain more energy-efficient, thus reducing bills not just temporarily, but permanently." | |
| Mr Brown also said he was "cautiously optimistic" about the UK economy, adding that it was "better placed to weather any global storm than it was in the 1970s, 80s or early 90s." | |
| Last week Business Secretary John Hutton declared that "the era of cheap energy is over". | Last week Business Secretary John Hutton declared that "the era of cheap energy is over". |
| However, those Labour MPs and activists who have argued for a windfall tax on the energy companies are likely to regard this outcome as a significant disappointment. | However, those Labour MPs and activists who have argued for a windfall tax on the energy companies are likely to regard this outcome as a significant disappointment. |
| A DBERR spokesman told the BBC it was "important people make savings on bills for the long term and not just now". | A DBERR spokesman told the BBC it was "important people make savings on bills for the long term and not just now". |