ENERGY COSTS AND UK MANUFACTURING

That this House notes the increasing problems the UK manufacturing sector is facing with the rising cost of energy; recognises that wholesale electricity prices for this winter have jumped by 110 per cent. on last winter with gas prices increasing by 130 per cent. over the same period, creating extra pressure on UK manufacturing companies to remain competitive with threats of job losses and closures looming as a consequence; expresses its disgust at the excessive profit margins of the energy companies and the inflated wages of the energy chiefs at the expense of UK businesses; and calls on the energy companies to cut the inflated energy prices in the interests of manufacturing and business throughout the UK.