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Written Question
Horizon Europe
Tuesday 26th July 2022

Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Independent - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what further consultation he plans to conduct with medical research charities on alternative funding arrangements to the EU's Horizon Europe programme.

Answered by Jane Hunt

The Government’s preference is for the UK to associate to Horizon Europe. However, given the EU’s persistence in delaying our association, it is only right and responsible that we are prepared for all outcomes, including one where we are not able to associate.

On 20 July we published proposals on how the UK would transition to a new R&D programme, should the EU’s delays to our association to Horizon Europe continue. These include details of our proposed transitional measures and an overview of our longer-term alternative plans.

We will continue to engage with researchers from a diverse range of sectors to make sure that the UK is a desirable place for R&D in all future scenarios. Over the next few months, we plan to step up our engagement with businesses, universities and research institutions, to support them if association is not possible.


Written Question
Horizon Europe
Tuesday 26th July 2022

Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Independent - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what consultation his Department has conducted with medical research charities on alternative funding arrangements to the EU's Horizon Europe programme.

Answered by Jane Hunt

The Government’s preference is for the UK to associate to Horizon Europe. However, given the EU’s persistence in delaying our association, it is only right and responsible that we are prepared for all outcomes, including one where we are not able to associate.

On 20 July we published proposals on how the UK would transition to a new R&D programme, should the EU’s delays to our association to Horizon Europe continue. These include details of our proposed transitional measures and an overview of our longer-term alternative plans.

We will continue to engage with researchers from a diverse range of sectors to make sure that the UK is a desirable place for R&D in all future scenarios. Over the next few months, we plan to step up our engagement with businesses, universities and research institutions, to support them if association is not possible.


Written Question
Energy Bills Rebate
Tuesday 21st June 2022

Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Independent - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether residents of buildings with communal heating systems will be eligible for the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme grant.

Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

There will be different considerations for consumers depending on their circumstances and the way in which they pay their energy bills. All domestic electricity customers who have a direct relationship with a licensed electricity supplier will be automatically eligible for this Scheme.

The Government continues to work with consumer groups and suppliers on the delivery of the Scheme and is exploring options for other ways in which customers who do not have a domestic electricity contract might receive similar support. The full suite of help from the government is covered here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/government-support-for-the-cost-of-living-factsheet/government-support-for-the-cost-of-living-factsheet.


Written Question
Service Industries: Sales Promotions
Monday 21st March 2022

Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Independent - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of putting in place additional protective measures to those committing to free online trial periods of services before contracted payment commences.

Answered by Paul Scully

We consulted last year on proposals to improve consumer safeguards when purchasing online subscriptions as part of our wider package of reforms to competition and consumer law. Alongside the consultation we published an impact assessment of these proposals: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/reforming-competition-and-consumer-policy. We are considering responses to the consultation and will publish our response shortly.


Written Question
Weddings: Coronavirus
Friday 23rd April 2021

Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Independent - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Government's support for the wedding industry sector adversely affected by the cancellation of wedding receptions and religious ceremonies as a result of covid-19 restrictions on the number of people attending those receptions and ceremonies.

Answered by Paul Scully

I meet regularly with the industry-led Weddings Taskforce, established to represent a wide range of interests in the weddings sector in England, to understand the impact of the pandemic on jobs and businesses.

Over the course of the pandemic the Government has provided an unprecedented package of financial support to business, including those in the wedding industry, which we keep under regular review.


Written Question
Companies: Registration
Monday 15th March 2021

Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Independent - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when the Government plans to publish a response to the Corporate Transparency and Register Reform: Powers of the Registrar consultation.

Answered by Paul Scully

Our consultation on the powers of the Registrar of Companies closed on 3 February 2021, and I am grateful to the many respondents who took the time to provide us with their views. These are being considered at present and we will publish a response in due course.


Written Question
Energy: Meters
Thursday 25th February 2021

Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Independent - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of banning energy meter readings to help prevent the spread of covid-19.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Government guidance on the current national restrictions enables tradespeople, such as meter readers and smart meter installers, to work in peoples’ homes if it is a necessary part of their job.

When visiting peoples’ homes, tradespeople should follow the Safer Working guidance and take appropriate Covid-19 secure precautions.


Written Question
Energy: Meters
Thursday 25th February 2021

Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Independent - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of pausing the installation of smart meters to help prevent the spread of covid-19.

Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

Government guidance on the current national restrictions enables tradespeople, such as meter readers and smart meter installers, to work in peoples’ homes if it is a necessary part of their job.

When visiting peoples’ homes, tradespeople should follow the Safer Working guidance and take appropriate Covid-19 secure precautions.


Written Question
Bounce Back Loan Scheme
Friday 5th February 2021

Asked by: Bambos Charalambous (Independent - Enfield, Southgate)

Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment the Government has made of the effect on independent retailers of the repayment of bounce back loans before the end of the covid-19 lockdown.

Answered by Paul Scully

The Government launched the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS) to ensure that the smallest businesses could access loans of up to £50,000 to help businesses through this difficult period. Under BBLS no repayments are due from the borrower for the first 12 months of the loan, giving businesses the breathing space they need during this difficult time. In addition, the Government covers the first 12 months of interest payments charged to the business by the lender.

We have always been clear that businesses are responsible for repaying any finance they take out. However, we recognise that some borrowers will benefit from flexibility for their repayments. That is why we announced the Pay As You Grow measures.

Pay As You Grow will provide Bounce Back Loan borrowers more time and flexibility over their repayments by giving them the option to:

  • Extend the length of the loan from six years to ten.
  • Make interest-only payments for six months, with the option to use this up to three times throughout the loan.
  • Once six payments have been made, have the option of a six-month repayment holiday.

Businesses will be able to use these options either individually or in combination with each other. In addition, they have the option to fully repay their loan early and will face no early repayment charges for doing so.

Together, the 12-month payment holiday and interest-free period for borrowers, along with the Pay As You Grow measures, provide a generous support package giving businesses the time to get back on their feet.

The Government continues to enhance its engagement with a broad range of trade and representative bodies, in particular SME networks, to continue to understand the impact of Covid-19 on businesses and the concerns they have.