A surge in the price of gas has forced energy companies to ask the Government for a bailout. Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary, today acknowledged it was a “worrying time” for businesses and consumers. “We are working hard to manage the impact of global gas price rises,” he said. He will host a round table tomorrow with the energy industry and consumer groups, followed by meetings across Whitehall. Today, he held crunch talks with the chief executive of energy regulator Ofgem, to discuss plans to protect the market and consumers. The pair considered steps that could be taken to help ease pressures on smaller energy providers at risk of going bust. All this while up to a million families face a rise in their bills.