Draft Electricity Supplier Obligations (Excluded Electricity) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Alan Whitehead Excerpts

Monday 13th March 2023 General Committees

[Dr Alan Whitehead (Southampton, Test) (Lab)]

The SI looks very straightforward. It proposes two minor amendments to the qualifying arrangements for the energy-intensive industries exemption scheme, which, as the Minister says, came into force in 2017. It replaced a discount scheme with one in which energy-intensive industries were eligible for a discount of 85% on the green and environmental levies charged to other industries to deal with, for example, the cost of the renewables obligation and contracts for difference.

As the Minister says, the continued eligibility of companies for the scheme was designed to be reviewed by 2022. Some companies’ eligibility may have lapsed because during the pandemic they did not produce to the same extent as they do now, or because they had other arrangements that they needed to carry out that might have infringed on the rules of the scheme. The arrangements proposed today shorten the period for which accounts and various other things need to be provided, so that eligible companies can be judged on the basis of their present performance, rather than their performance over five years.

I would be grateful if the Minister could elucidate other matters relating to the scheme, as they are quite important for our overall judgment of it. First, as she said, the original 2017 EII exemption applied to about 315 eligible businesses. Indeed, the SI that introduced the scheme provided a number of specified activities in sectors exempted because of their energy-intensiveness. However, although she suggested that those 315 businesses now have their eligibility up for renewal, it appears that when the scheme was launched in November 2017, only 170 companies applied. Unless there has been substantial changeover since 2017, and a number of new companies make up the difference between the 315 eligible businesses and the companies that applied, we appear to be short a number of companies—eligible companies that have not yet received the discount on their electricity bills, for reasons that I can only conjecture about. Perhaps they thought applying for the scheme was too difficult, or did not know about it.

We have a potential double problem. The SI suggests that things could be made easier by our relaxing the requirements on companies that are renewing their eligibility. It appears that a number of companies that were in principle eligible for the scheme as it was—not as it is now—still have not got any exemption. With these new reliefs and eligibility requirements, companies not in the scheme could be brought into it. Whether the Government have any positive methods of ensuring that they are brought in, I do not know; the Minister may be able to enlighten us.

In 2017, when the scheme came in, it gave an 85% exemption, but in August 2022 the Government announced that they would take the scheme further and introduce 100% exemption for energy-intensive industries. As far as I know, nothing has happened on implementing that proposal. There was considerable press coverage of the intention to increase the exemption to 100%, but there is very little press coverage of the fact that the Government appear to have done nothing to implement that increase—or if they have, it has passed me by, and it has certainly has not been recorded to any great extent.

If it is still proposed that the 100% scheme will be implemented in the not-too-distant future, that will make a difference to the extent of the exemption arrangement, and to the measures needed to make sure that the scheme is easier to requalify for, so that businesses can get an exemption more valuable than the 85% exemption.

[Samantha Dixon (City of Chester) (Lab)]

Forgive me if I have misunderstood, Dame Angela, but only this morning, I received a letter from a laundry based in my constituency, which made the point that its energy bills have escalated considerably. It appears—unless I misread the letter—that the laundry sector is not covered by the regulations. Does my hon. Friend agree that laundry—for the tourism trade in my constituency, but also for healthcare operations—is a vital sector that has soaring costs, and needs to not be overlooked?

[Dr Whitehead]

My hon. Friend makes a very good point that slightly anticipates my third and final question for the Minister. She is quite right, and by coincidence, I have in front of me the complete list of activities that qualify as energy-intensive industries. Laundry and associated activities are not on the list. However, interestingly, the mining of hard coal is. It is curious that those mining hard coal are exempt from all the levies that go towards mitigating the pretty bad things done to the environment through the mining of hard coal. I would have thought that the mining of hard coal should in no way be in the schedule of specified activities. My hon. Friend suggests other things that should be in that schedule and eligible for levy reductions. Does the Minister intend to review the schedule, which dates from 2017, and who is eligible for exemptions? If she does, what will be the criteria for inclusion among energy-intensive industries? If she does not, is she happy that mining hard coal continues to be 85% exempt?

Labour will not oppose this SI, because it represents a sensible change to the scheme and takes account of what happened during covid. I think the Minister will agree, however, that there are questions, some clear and some rather less clear, about the operation of the EII scheme that need answering before we can conclude our business this afternoon.

[Amanda Solloway]

I thank the hon. Member, as ever, for his valuable and well thought out contribution.

The exemption provides relief for key foundation industries, including companies operating in the steel, paper, chemicals, cement, and glass sectors. The scheme also supports emerging sectors, such as battery manufacturers and companies making semiconductors. The companies that the scheme supports are located across the country and provide high-paid, good-quality jobs, both directly and in the supply chain.

The hon. Member asked about communication. Communication is key in all that we do, and we will endeavour to ensure that we keep on communicating all we are doing to support the industry. The regulations are necessary to improve the operation of the scheme. They will make it easier for start-ups and businesses to apply. They will also allow businesses to account for the impact of covid-19 when applying for relief. We will update and publish our guidance on gov.uk in April 2023 to ensure that business is aware of the relief, and we will proactively engage with stakeholders to ensure that they are aware of the changes. All 320 companies have received a discount, and we know that other companies have already applied. The list of eligible sectors is based on the most electricity and trade-intensive businesses. We continue to engage with industry and other stakeholders to ensure that support is targeted at those sectors most exposed to high electricity costs.

The hon. Member asked about the 100% exemption. On 23 February 2023, the Government announced their intention to move to 100% as part of the British industry supercharger. The delivery mechanisms and timelines for the implementation of the supercharger will be consulted on this spring.

[Dr Whitehead]

What the Minister says appears to be a reannouncement of what was announced in August and not proceeded with. Is the Minister now saying that the 100% discount is being proceeded with, and will be in place, say, this spring or later on? When does she think that might happen?

[Amanda Solloway]

To reiterate, the Government announced their intention to move 100% as part of the British industry supercharger on 23 February 2023.

[Dr Whitehead]

But you announced it in August last year.

[The Chair]

Order. Rather than speaking while sitting down, the Member might want to intervene; I am sure the Minister would let him.

[Dr Whitehead]

I apologise.