Cabinet Minister George Justice suggested families struggling to use valuable brands to save money, but rejected an unexpected tax on oil and gas companies, arguing that fossil fuel giants are already paying enough taxes.
The environment secretary said prices would continue to rise in the supermarket and “undoubtedly put pressure” on household budgets amid the cost-of-living crisis.
Asked what hard-pressed families can do, he told Sky News: “In general, what people find is about some of the valuable brands, not about own-brand products that can actually contain and manage their home budget”.
Deputy Labor leader Angela Raynor tweeted: “Let them eat a valuable cake? The Tories have no idea.
Mr Justis said that “the price of food does not in itself lead to poverty”, but acknowledged that the combination of “a very sharp rise in energy costs” and other price increases put a heavy burden on people.
However, the minister insisted that oil and gas companies had already paid enough taxes as he rejected growing calls for a levy on their unforeseen profits. “We need to see them invest,” Mr Justis said.
BP said on Tuesday that its main quarterly profits had doubled to £ 5 billion thanks to rising crude oil prices. But Mr Justis said the company already had a “significant contribution”.
This comes as Boris Johnson’s government comes under increasing pressure to provide more support to ease the pressure on household finances.
On Tuesday, the prime minister cited a £ 200 “discount” loan given by Chancellor Rishi Sunak earlier this year – but acknowledged it would not be enough immediately to cover them all.
Mr Justis acknowledged that the £ 200 discount was just a “loan” – but insisted it would help people pay their bills this year.
Defending the chancellor for failing to provide more bills, he said: “We can’t just keep borrowing huge amounts of money. … There is a real risk that inflation will rise even more. “
The environment secretary was also asked about the case of a 77-year-old ITV viewer named Elsie – who travels by bus all day to cut her bills.
“In this particular case, I would really advise the woman to go to the local authorities and try to get some support from this Household Assistance Fund – that’s why it’s there,” said Mr Justis.
The minister acknowledged that the £ 200 discount on energy bills was simply a “loan” – but insisted it would help people pay their bills this year.
Asked if BP and other oil and gas companies pay enough taxes, he told Sky News: “So far, yes. And that’s why we chose not to do it [a windfall tax]”
He told Sky News that the situation would be monitored, but “for now we think it is right for these oil companies to pay more and they are already paying more – the basic rate of income tax or corporate tax is already 10 cents more. high. ”
The Minister added: “Obviously nothing is ruled out, the tax system is kept under constant review, we have two key fiscal events a year.
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