Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the Department is taking to reduce energy costs for manufacturing businesses.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the pressure high electricity costs place on businesses. Eligible energy-intensive businesses in Scotland can benefit from the British Industry Supercharger, which provides relief from certain electricity policy costs and network charges. The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will also support over 10,000 businesses across Great Britain, reducing electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour—an average discount of around 25%. We are working closely with the Department for Business, Industry, Science and Trade to explore further options to reduce non-domestic electricity costs. In the longer term, delivering clean power will strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the effectiveness and operational use of the Beckton desalination plant since 2010; whether future desalination plants will be subject to operational performance requirements; and what plans she has to expand desalination capacity as part of the UK's long-term water security strategy.
Answered by Emma Hardy - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Thames Water is responsible for maintaining resilient supplies for its customers and reporting through its statutory planning and regulatory processes.
Water companies are required to demonstrate, through their Water Resources Management Plans (WRMPs), that schemes, including the eight new desalination schemes proposed in their WRMPs, will maintain secure water supplies.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of industrial electricity prices on the international competitiveness of UK manufacturers.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government recognises the pressure high electricity costs place on businesses. Eligible energy-intensive businesses in Scotland can benefit from the British Industry Supercharger, which provides relief from certain electricity policy costs and network charges. The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will also support over 10,000 businesses across Great Britain, reducing electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour—an average discount of around 25%. We are working closely with the Department for Business, Industry, Science and Trade to explore further options to reduce non-domestic electricity costs. In the longer term, delivering clean power will strengthen energy security and reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy costs on economic growth in energy-intensive manufacturing sectors.
Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with HM Treasury)
We know high energy costs is one of the greatest challenges facing energy intensive manufacturing sectors, and is one of the key barriers to growth in the UK.
As part of the Modern Industrial Strategy, the Government has announced a series of measures to reduce industrial energy costs. This includes the creation of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, which will reduce electricity costs by c.£35-40/MWh and exempt more than 10,000 electricity intensive manufacturers from the indirect cost of the Renewables Obligation, Feed-In Tariffs and Capacity Market schemes from April 2027.
Alongside this, the Government has also increased support available through the British Industry Supercharger by increasing Network Charge Compensation from 60% to 90% from April this year. Around 500 of the UK's most energy-intensive businesses benefit from the scheme, which is expected to reduce their electricity costs by up to £420 million per year.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of employment costs on recruitment in the manufacturing sector.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Minister of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
The Government has published a comprehensive package of analysis on the impact of the Employment Rights Act, including sectoral assessments: Employment Rights Act 2025: impact assessments - GOV.UK. Our analysis assesses the overall risk to employment as low.
The Government has also published impact assessments for National Minimum Wage (NMW) and National Living Wage policy (NLW), including sectoral assessments. Evidence to date shows little or no significant impact on employment from past increases to the NLW and NMW.
A Tax Information and Impact Note (TIIN), published alongside Autumn Budget 2024, includes analysis of the impacts of employer National Insurance changes.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of forecast reductions in manufacturing employment in 2026 and 2027 on economic growth.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Data from the Office for National Statistics show that manufacturing jobs have declined by around 6.1% since the most recent peak in Q4 2022, while over the same period manufacturing output (measured by gross value added) has increased by 4.5% in real terms. According to the latest comparison of independent forecasts collated and published by HM Treasury in September 2026, manufacturing output remains forecast to see growth in 2026 (median projected growth 0.7%) and, with projections improving in recent months, in 2027 (median projected growth 1.2%).
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps the Department is taking to support small and medium-sized manufacturing businesses to recruit apprentices.
Answered by Lilian Greenwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)
Apprenticeships are a devolved matter, and the response outlines the information for England only.
This Government is transforming the apprenticeships levy into a new growth and skills levy in England, backed by £1 billion of additional investment. This will support 50,000 more young people into apprenticeships, give employers, including in the manufacturing sector, greater flexibility to develop the workforce they need, and support the industrial strategy.
We know that small businesses are more likely to offer apprenticeships to young people but recognise that they don’t have the economies of scale or HR resources of larger employers.
To support them, we have introduced a new apprenticeship hiring payment of £2,000 for non-levy paying employers (who are typically SMEs) when they take on 16–24-year-old apprentices as new employees. Employers hiring apprentices aged 18-24 who have been on Universal Credit for over six months will also be eligible for the new £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant.
This is on top of the £1,000 we provide to both employers and training providers when they take on apprentices aged under 19, or 19-to-24-year-old apprentices who have an EHCP or have been, or are, in care.
In addition, the government now fully funds apprenticeship training for all eligible under 25s at employers of all sizes, as we prioritise funding toward young people.
Alongside this, employers benefit from not being required to pay anything towards employees’ National Insurance for all apprentices aged up to age 25, when the employee’s wage is below £50,270 a year.
The government also facilitates and funds the Apprenticeship Ambassador Network (AAN), which comprises around 3,000 employer and apprentice volunteers, to promote the benefits of apprenticeships. It operates across all parts of England through nine regional networks which provide buddying and mentoring support to small businesses to help them recruit and retain apprentices.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, pursuant to the Answer of 4 September 2026 to Question 26359 on Iron and Steel: Wales, what information his Department holds on the total value of financial support provided to steel companies and projects in Wales through (a) direct government support and (b) the National Wealth Fund, both in total and separately.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Through the steel strategy, we are creating a more competitive business environment for steel companies in Wales and across the UK. This Government is investing in the Welsh steel industry with £500m for the transformation of Port Talbot, alongside over £100m for local community transition support. 7 Steel UK (formerly Celsa Steel UK) has been awarded over £20 million in grant funding by the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) for several projects to improve energy efficiency while Swansea University will receive £11 million for their new 7-year steel research hub IGNITE.
For steel projects looking for investment, the National Wealth Fund (NWF) is actively seeking engagement with steel firms across the UK. Information on investments made by the NWF is a matter for the Fund, which operates independently in making investment decisions.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, how much funding his Department has provided to steel companies operating in Wales since the announcement of the Government's £2.5 billion funding to support the UK steel industry, excluding the separate £500 million grant to Tata Steel in Port Talbot.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Through the steel strategy, we are creating a more competitive business environment for steel companies in Wales and across the UK. This Government is investing in the Welsh steel industry with £500m for the transformation of Port Talbot, alongside over £100m for local community transition support. 7 Steel UK (formerly Celsa Steel UK) has been awarded over £20 million in grant funding by the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) for several projects to improve energy efficiency while Swansea University will receive £11 million for their new 7-year steel research hub IGNITE.
For steel projects looking for investment, the National Wealth Fund (NWF) is actively seeking engagement with steel firms across the UK. Information on investments made by the NWF is a matter for the Fund, which operates independently in making investment decisions.
Asked by: David Chadwick (Liberal Democrat - Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe)
Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to his Department's document entitled The UK steel strategy, published on 20 March 2026, if he will set out the total value of investments made by the National Wealth Fund in steel companies and projects based in Wales.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) (Jointly with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Through the steel strategy, we are creating a more competitive business environment for steel companies in Wales and across the UK. This Government is investing in the Welsh steel industry with £500m for the transformation of Port Talbot, alongside over £100m for local community transition support. 7 Steel UK (formerly Celsa Steel UK) has been awarded over £20 million in grant funding by the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) for several projects to improve energy efficiency while Swansea University will receive £11 million for their new 7-year steel research hub IGNITE.
For steel projects looking for investment, the National Wealth Fund (NWF) is actively seeking engagement with steel firms across the UK. Information on investments made by the NWF is a matter for the Fund, which operates independently in making investment decisions.