Scrapping standing charges on household gas bills is a likely cost-of-living measure in the Budget on 28 October, Politico reports. The government has not confirmed this.
Politico bases its report on conversations with 22 current and former officials, MPs and people close to Downing Street. It says the charges cost the average household just over £100 a year. That figure has not been independently checked.
Politico also says the help could be overshadowed by a predicted £276 rise in household bills in January.
The report follows Prime Minister's Questions on 21 October. There the Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, said he had asked the Chancellor, John Healey, and the Energy Secretary, Miatta Fahnbulleh, to "look at whether we can remove standing charges from gas bills". No cost for the measure has been given.