Conor McGinn
Independent - Former Member for St Helens North
First elected: 7th May 2015
Left House: 30th May 2024 (Dissolution)
1 APPG membership (as of 30 May 2024)
Racing and Bloodstock31 Former APPG memberships
Armed Forces, Betting and Gaming, Brazil, British Council, British-Brazilian, CAFOD, Celtic Nations, Childcare and Early Education, Coalfield Communities, Commonwealth, Darts, Eggs, Pigs and Poultry, Formula One, Greyhound, Industrial Heritage, Ireland and the Irish in Britain, Irish in Britain, Kurdistan Region in Iraq, Laos, Liverpool City Region, Music, Northern Ireland Economy, Pigeon Racing, Queen's University Belfast, Racing and Bloodstock Industries, Snooker, Thailand, Transatlantic Trade, Union, Waterways, WrestlingDivision Voting information
Conor McGinn voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 9 Labour Aye votes vs 9 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 52 Noes - 66
Conor McGinn voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 23 Labour Aye votes vs 23 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 117 Noes - 38
Conor McGinn voted No - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 56 Labour No votes vs 139 Labour Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 211 Noes - 390
Conor McGinn voted Aye - against a party majority and in line with the House
One of 65 Labour Aye votes vs 153 Labour No votes
Tally: Ayes - 397 Noes - 223
All Debates
Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
Sparring Partners
(20 debate interactions)
(16 debate interactions)
Department Debates
(111 debate contributions)
(57 debate contributions)
(33 debate contributions)
(26 debate contributions)
Legislation Debates
(18,518 words contributed)
(8,220 words contributed)
(8,220 words contributed)
(5,635 words contributed)
Latest EDMs signed by Conor McGinn
Women and girls in global conflict zones
Tabled by: Sarah Dyke (Liberal Democrat - Glastonbury and Somerton)That this House notes with concern that the number of women and girls living in conflict zones worldwide reached 614 million in 2022; recognises the gendered risks conflict poses to women and girls through sexual violence, lack of healthcare, food insecurity, disruption to education and trafficking; acknowledges that women in …
(Most recent: 15 Apr 2024)
Signatures by party:
Liberal Democrat: 3
Independent: 2
Labour: 2
Scottish National Party: 1
Postural Tachycardia Syndrome awareness
Tabled by: Cat Smith (Labour - Lancaster and Wyre)That this House notes that Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (PoTS) is an autonomic nervous system abnormality where sitting, standing and exercise can cause symptoms including shortness of breath, chest pain, brain fog, dizziness, pain, fainting, vomiting and fatigue; recognises that many people suffer a combination of symptoms, which can be chronic …
(Most recent: 18 Apr 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 9
Scottish National Party: 7
Liberal Democrat: 7
Independent: 3
Plaid Cymru: 3
Conservative: 3
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Alliance: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
Commons initiatives
These initiatives were driven by Conor McGinn, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Conor McGinn has not been granted any Urgent Questions
2 Adjournment Debates led by Conor McGinn
2 Bills introduced by Conor McGinn
Parallel Parliament Note:
The substantive text of this bill was included within the Government’s Northern Ireland (Executive Formation) Act which received Royal Assent during the 2017-2019 Parliament.
The Bill failed to complete its passage through Parliament before the end of the session. This means the Bill will make no further progress. A Bill to make provision for the marriage of same sex couples in Northern Ireland; to make provision in the law of Northern Ireland for the conversion of civil partnerships to marriages and for the review of civil partnership; to make provision for the legal recognition of the marriage of armed forces personnel overseas and of other marriages solemnised outside Northern Ireland; and for connected purposes.
A Bill to establish a presumption against eligibility for parole in cases where a person, convicted of unlawfully killing another person, has not provided relevant knowledge in their possession for the purposes of facilitating the location and recovery of the remains of the victim; to create a separate offence of withholding such information; to make provision about the available sentences for such an offence; and for connected purposes.
8 Bills co-sponsored by Conor McGinn
Public Advocate (No. 2) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Maria Eagle (Lab)
Public Advocate Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Maria Eagle (Lab)
Private Landlords (Registration) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Phil Wilson (Lab)
Representation of the People (Young People's Enfranchisement) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Peter Kyle (Lab)
National Living Wage (Extension to Young People) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Holly Lynch (Lab)
Planning (Agent of Change) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - John Spellar (Lab)
Food Advertising (Protection of Children from Targeting) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Kirstene Hair (Con)
Crime (Assaults on Emergency Services Staff) Bill 2016-17
Sponsor - Holly Lynch (Lab)
Latest 50 Written Questions
(View all written questions)11 Other Department Questions
As of 19 July 2023, the number of people employed by (a) the House of Commons is 3,284 and (b), the number of people employed by Members of Parliament through IPSA is 3,746.
The Glasgow Climate Pact acknowledges the vital role that local communities play in driving climate action, and emphasises the importance of collaboration across all parts of society to deliver effective climate action. The Mayors and Regions Advisory Council has played a key role in this endeavour, offering local insights and experiences to help meet our climate goals.
We remain committed to engaging with local and combined authorities, and we will use our Presidency year to ensure that the commitments from COP26 are delivered and that we build on our progress in Glasgow.
COP26 President (Cabinet Office)
The UK does not have a specific renewable heat target. However, the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which supports homes and businesses in transitioning to renewable heating, is designed to help us to meet our binding domestic and international targets on both carbon emission reduction and renewable energy.
The recently agreed RHI budget guarantees funding out to 2020/21, and provides consumers and industry with certainty about the future of the RHI scheme.
The Department responded to the CMA’s provisional findings on 31 July (copy attached).
We are committed to implementing the final recommendations of the CMA and we currently expect their final report in April 2016.
In addition to the impact assessment published alongside the FIT review, part of the purpose of the consultation process itself has been to gather views on the broader economic impact of the proposals. We are currently analysing feedback submitted during the consultation, which closed on 23rd October. We will publish a Government response in due course.
Our consultation on the feed-in tariff review reflects the need to balance sector support whilst keeping bills down for consumers.
We strongly welcome evidence from the sector during this review consultation, which ends on 23 October.
DECC domestic energy bill estimates are only produced at Public Energy Supply (PES) regional level, we do not have bill data for constituency level. The St Helens North constituency covers two PES regions, North West and Merseyside & North Wales.
The tables below shows the estimated average annual 2014 energy bill (2015 data is not yet available) for customers in the UK, and the two relevant PES region.
These are based on an assumed annual consumption of 3,800 kWh of electricity and 15,000 kWh of gas per year.
2014 | Electricity | Gas | Total |
UK | £592 | £752 | £1,344 |
North West | £596 | £748 | £1,344 |
Merseyside and North Wales | £634 | £755 | £1,389 |
2010 | Electricity | Gas | Total |
UK | £474 | £564 | £1,038 |
North West | £451 | £567 | £1,018 |
Merseyside and North Wales | £489 | £567 | £1,056 |
I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bury South (Mr Lewis) on 10 June 2014, UIN 199388.
I have placed a list of UK Government delegates since January 2014 in the Library of the House.
Industrial Strategy is a long-term whole-of-government approach to support economic growth. The partnership between business and all parts of government has delivered, and continues to deliver, a range of opportunities to help create growth, jobs and economic prosperity across the UK. Whilst there are many examples of collaboration at a local level delivering industrial strategy objectives and economic growth (see www.bit.ly/instratmap), industrial strategy operates on a thematic and sectoral basis.
The Government is committed to creating a Northern Powerhouse, enabling the North of England to reach its potential as a driving force in the UK economy. The Government works closely with the Local Enterprise Partnerships across the North West, which are responsible for determining the priorities for investment in their areas in line with their strategic economic plans. This includes the expanded growth deals agreed in January 2015 with each Local Enterprise Partnership, which committed a total of £1.25bn of investment in the North West area over the lifetime of the deals (2015-2021), including £263.9m for the Liverpool City Region.
Advice from the Law Officers is covered by legal professional privilege and is subject to a long-standing convention, which prevents disclosure of the advice (or even the fact that the Law Officers have been consulted) outside Government.
Shadow Attorney General
The Inquiry’s first interim report contained the recommendation that an interim payment of no less than £100,000 be paid to all those infected and bereaved partners registered with existing support schemes. The Government made these payments in October 2022, and these payments continue to be made to eligible beneficiaries upon being accepted onto the schemes.
Shadow Paymaster General
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.
A response to the Hon gentlemen Parliamentary Question of 25th April is attached.
Following the Cabinet reshuffle on 15 September 2021 and subsequent updates to the Cabinet Committee structure, the government’s cyber priorities are now overseen by the relevant Cabinet Committees. The Prime Minister has asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to be lead minister for cyber. In line with previous answers, information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including when and how often they meet, is generally not disclosed. To do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
Following the Cabinet reshuffle on 15 September 2021 and subsequent updates to the Cabinet Committee structure, the government’s cyber priorities are now overseen by the relevant Cabinet Committees. The Prime Minister has asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to be lead minister for cyber. In line with previous answers, information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees, including when and how often they meet, is generally not disclosed. To do so could harm the frankness and candour of internal discussion.
The National Cyber Security Strategy 2016-2021, supported by a £1.9 billion investment, is delivering transformational change, building new capabilities and intervening to protect the UK from cyber attacks.
For national security reasons we are unable to provide details of the National Cyber Security Programme budget, but we have made significant progress, as the Strategy explains, some of the ambitions go beyond its five year timescale. This is why the Spending Review provided further funding for the NCSP in 2021-22 and why we will be setting out a new long-term strategy for cyber security this year. The National Cyber Security Strategy 2016 - 2021 Progress Report 2020 sets out further detail on the progress we have made since 2016 and the impact our interventions are having.
Further to the answer given on 28 April 2020 to PQ 37764 and to PQ 96068 on 28 September, the charitable and voluntary sector plays an important role in the support available to veterans and the wider Armed Forces Community. The Government provides a range of financial support to the sector including through regular grants to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust, which this year received £20m to distribute. A further £6m was provided to nearly 100 charities through the COVID-19 Impact Fund. This includes both funding for local projects and for organisations who operate nationally, including in the North West. The Government does not hold centrally a complete breakdown of the funding charities and organisations which support veterans in St Helens and Merseyside have received.
The National Security Adviser is the principal adviser to the Prime Minister and Cabinet on national security strategy, policy, capability and civil contingencies.
Details of the National Security Council's membership is publicly available on GOV.UK. It is a long established precedent that information about the discussions that have taken place in Cabinet and its Committees, and how often they have met, is not shared publicly.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
A list of Ministerial delegates at each Summit are included in the official communiques published following a Summit meeting. These can be found on the British-Irish Council website https://www.britishirishcouncil.org/publications
The UK Government Ministers in attendance at each of the British-Irish Council Summits that have taken place since 2010 are listed below.
Date / location of Summit | UK Government Ministers in attendance |
25 June 2010, Guernsey | Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt. Hon. Owen Paterson MP Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, Mr. Charles Hendry MP |
13 December 2010, Isle of Man | Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt. Hon. Owen Paterson MP |
20 June 2011, London | Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt. Hon. Owen Paterson MP Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, Mr. Charles Hendry MP Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. David Gauke MP |
13 January 2012, Dublin | Deputy Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt. Hon. Owen Paterson MP |
22 June 2012, Stirling Castle, Scotland | Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt. Hon Michael Moore MP Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Rt. Hon. Edward Davey MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt. Hon. Owen Paterson MP |
26 November 2012, Cardiff | Secretary of State for Wales, Rt. Hon David Jones MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt. Hon. Theresa Villiers MP |
21 June 2013, Derry~ Londonderry | Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change, Baroness Sandip Verma |
15 November 2013, Jersey | Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP Minister of Justice, Rt Hon Lord McNally |
13 June 2014, Guernsey | Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport, Mr Robert Goodwill MP |
28 November 2014, Isle of Man | Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, Rt Hon Francis Maude MP |
19 June 2015, Dublin | Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP Minister of State for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, Rt Hon Mike Penning MP |
27 November 2015, London | Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Lord Gardiner of Kimble |
17 June 2016, Glasgow | Secretary of State for Scotland, Rt Hon David Mundell MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Theresa Villiers MP Minister of State for Community and Social Care, Rt Hon Alistair Burt MP |
22 July 2016, Cardiff | Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP Minister of State for the Department for Exiting the European Union, Rt Hon David Jones MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland and Northern Ireland, Lord Dunlop |
25 November 2016, Cardiff | Secretary of State for Wales, Rt Hon Alun Cairns MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union, Mr Robin Walker MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Early Years Ms Caroline Dinenage MP |
10 November 2017, Jersey | Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Rt Hon James Brokenshire MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Exiting the European Union Robin Walker MP Parliamentary Secretary and Minister for Government Resilience and Efficiency Caroline Nokes MP |
22 June 2018, Guernsey | Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, Rt Hon David Lidington MP Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Karen Bradley MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Exiting the EU, Robin Walker MP Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Rural Affairs and Biosecurity, Lord Gardiner of Kimble |
Requiring some form of identification to vote was successfully tested at the local elections on 3 May by five local authorities: Bromley, Gosport, Swindon, Watford and Woking. The overwhelming majority of people cast their vote without a problem and the success of the pilots proves that this is a reasonable and proportionate measure to take, and there was no notable adverse effect on turnout.
The estimate by the political lobby group the Electoral Reform Society is exaggerated and inaccurate. Data from Returning Officers across all five participating local authorities shows that there were 340 electors asked to return to the polling station with the correct identification who did not subsequently return. This represents 0.16% of the votes cast.
This reflects that such identification was a brand new requirement, and a few electors may not have read the publicity that they were sent about the pilots.
However, the experience of Northern Ireland, where paper ID has been required since 1985 and photo ID since 2003, illustrates that there should be no issue with voters not knowing - once the requirement has become established.
The Electoral Commission is responsible for carrying out an independent, statutory evaluation of the pilot schemes and will publish its findings in the summer of 2018; this will be an opportunity to review how the publicity arrangements operated and could be improved. This is one of the benefits of piloting the policy.
Requiring some form of identification to vote was successfully tested at the local elections on 3 May by five local authorities: Bromley, Gosport, Swindon, Watford and Woking. The overwhelming majority of people cast their vote without a problem and the success of the pilots proves that this is a reasonable and proportionate measure to take, and there was no notable adverse effect on turnout.
The estimate by the political lobby group the Electoral Reform Society is exaggerated and inaccurate. Data from Returning Officers across all five participating local authorities shows that there were 340 electors asked to return to the polling station with the correct identification who did not subsequently return. This represents 0.14% of the votes cast.
This reflects that such identification was a brand new requirement, and a few electors may not have read the publicity that they were sent about the pilots.
However, the experience of Northern Ireland, where paper ID has been required since 1985 and photo ID since 2003, illustrates that there should be no issue with voters not knowing - once the requirement has become established.
The Electoral Commission is responsible for carrying out an independent, statutory evaluation of the pilot schemes and will publish its findings in the summer of 2018; this will be an opportunity to review how the publicity arrangements operated and could be improved. This is one of the benefits of piloting the policy.
There was an error in the data previously presented. Whilst the individual totals of votes cast in each local authority were correct, the overall total was incorrectly summed. The previously quoted total of votes cast of 206,741 should have been 234,506. As a result, the percentage of people who did not return as a proportion of number of votes cast was overstated, incorrectly given as 0.16%. The correct figure is 0.14%. The attached table contains the correct data.
As part of its planned evaluation, the Electoral Commission will continue to collect and analyse a wide range of data and information about the pilots, including public opinion surveys, data from polling stations, turnout and postal voting data, and polling station staff surveys. We will continue to work with the Electoral Commission and other partners to ensure that the emerging data gives an accurate picture of how ID pilots were delivered.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
The Department for Business and Trade works with partners to promote investment opportunities across the North West to overseas investors and provide support for businesses wishing to be based within the region.
The Government is investing £80 million in the Liverpool City Region Freeport and £320 million in Investment Zones in the Liverpool City Region and Greater Manchester creating new jobs and attracting new businesses. Both the Investment Zone and Freeport have key locations in St Helens.
The Government also supports a range of programmes dedicated to helping businesses to grow. In March this year, we launched the second-generation Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, with £660 million committed to support debt and equity finance for businesses across the North of England. Since its launch in 2012, the Start Up Loans programme has provided over £121 million of loans to new entrepreneurs across the North West region, as of 13 September 2023.
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) supports UK Freeports to attract new investment, boost trade and create thousands of jobs in their surrounding areas.
DBT provides tailored support to Liverpool City Region Freeport to develop and implement an ambitious trade and investment strategy, including to promote the advanced manufacturing and logistics opportunity at Parkside St Helens, as one of the Freeport’s strategic tax sites.
Support provided by DBT includes the creation of bespoke marketing collateral and engaging potential investors at international events through DBT’s global network. In November, DBT supported the Freeport’s presence at the Arab British Economic Summit to target investment from the Middle Eastern market.
Individuals on zero-hours contracts represent a very small proportion of the workforce – around 3.6% for the period April – June 2023, according to the ONS. The share of the workforce in the North West on a zero-hours contract is 3.5%. For this small group, a zero-hours contract may be the type of contract which works best for them. Zero hours contracts are an important part of the UK’s flexible labour market, for both employers where there is not a constant demand for staff and for individuals who may need to balance work around other commitments such as childcare and study.
Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
We remain absolutely determined to secure a competitive future for our energy intensive industries (EIIs) including the glass industry and we have provided EIIs more than £2 billion to help with the costs of energy.
On 23rd February 2023, we announced further support for key UK energy intensive industries. Over 300 businesses across the UK will benefit from the British Industry Supercharger: targeted measures to ensure the energy costs for key UK industries are in line with other major economies around the world.
The Government is taking steps to encourage businesses to discuss and agree suitable flexible working arrangements with all workers and jobseekers, including those with SEND.
In December 2022, we published our response to the “making flexible working the default” consultation. This committed to a range of measures, including making the right to request flexible working a ‘day one’ entitlement, by removing the existing 26-week qualifying period.
We are also supporting the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill, which will make further changes to improve access to flexible working.
Certain jobseekers with SEND may have the right to reasonable adjustments when applying for jobs, which businesses have a duty to consider.
Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero do not hold the data for the number and proportion of care recipients that are in fuel poverty in St Helens North Constituency. The latest sub regional fuel poverty statistics show that we consider 13.6% (6,097) of households to be in fuel poverty in the constituency of St Helens North.
1 Department for Science, Innovation & Technology Questions
(View all Conor McGinn's DSIT questions)In the 12 months leading to the start of January 2024, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) awarded:
- None to organisations located in St Helens North constituency during this period;
- £264m to organisations performing research projects in the North West of England
- £4.9bn to organisations performing research projects in the UK.
These figures include a range of investments made via UKRI’s Research Councils and Innovate UK, but the figure excludes formula-based block grants deployed through universities which will also have gone to research projects in this region.
Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology
6 Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Questions
(View all Conor McGinn's BEIS questions)BEIS produced a one-off publication in March 2019 of annual prepayment meter electricity statistics for Great Britain by country, English regions and local authority. These statistics cover electricity prepayment meters which have a domestic meter profile in 2017.
Data on regional variation of payment method (prepayment, direct debit or credit) for domestic standard electricity customers, domestic economy 7 electricity customers and domestic gas customers is published in Quarterly Energy Prices table 2.4.2, table 2.4.3 and table 2.5.2.
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) provides a discount on the wholesale element of gas and electricity bills to ensure that all eligible small businesses that receive their energy from licensed suppliers, are protected from high energy costs over the winter period. The EBRS discount is applied directly to the energy bills of eligible businesses by their energy providers. Therefore the Government does not currently have a breakdown of support received by location.
The estimated projections for fuel poverty in England in 2022 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/annual-fuel-poverty-statistics-report-2022.
The latest subregional statistics are for 2020, and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/sub-regional-fuel-poverty-2022.
The Government recognises this is a worrying time for businesses facing pressures due to the significant increases in global gas prices and its impact on electricity and carbon prices.
My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State has met representatives of the UK’s high energy-using sectors including the glass industry in the past months in order to understand the impact on their business, and extensive engagement with industry continues across government at both a ministerial and official level. The Government’s priorities are to ensure costs can be managed and supplies of energy are maintained.
Many high energy-using businesses will have hedging strategies in place which help to shield them from exposure to the gas and electricity price rises, while some may be more reliant on current market prices.
To help ensure our economy remains strong and competitive, between 2013 and 2020, total relief to energy intensive industries for electricity policy costs of over £2billion was provided. This helped over 250 businesses across the UK, including 12 glass companies. In 2020 alone, the Government provided relief to Employment Investment Initiatives for electricity policy costs worth over £470million.
In 2018, the Government announced £315 million of funding for the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund, which will support businesses with high energy use to cut their bills until 2024.
The Government keeps all costs on bills under review; We consulted on extending ECO from 2022-26 and expanding it to £1bn per year, supporting low income and vulnerable households across Great Britain. We will issue a response to the ECO4 consultation in due course.