Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on long-term reform of the electricity market to decouple gas and renewable prices for business users.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Secretary of State for Business and Trade continues to have regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding the transparency of energy pricing in the commercial sub-metering market.
Answered by Kate Dearden - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
There have been no recent discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on the transparency of energy pricing in the commercial sub‑metering market. Decisions on whether to take action in specific markets are a matter for the CMA, as the UK’s independent competition authority. Responsibility for energy policy sits with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ofgem.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the British Business Bank on the provision of low-interest loans for industrial battery storage systems.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Business Secretary has regular discussions with the British Business Bank on a range of issues relating to access to finance for smaller businesses. No recent discussions have taken place specifically on the provision of low-interest loans for industrial battery storage systems.
The Bank’s Growth Guarantee Scheme facilitates the provision of loans to smaller businesses on a sector-neutral basis. In 2025, the Bank also launched a pilot of a Green Growth Guarantee Scheme to facilitate the flow of finance to businesses investing in green technologies.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of high energy costs on the R&D budgets of manufacturing firms.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This Government is committed to reducing energy costs for energy intensive businesses, including eligible manufacturers investing in R&D. From 2027 the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will reduce electricity costs for over 10,000 eligible manufacturing businesses, by up to £40 per megawatt hour.
The British Industry Supercharger is supporting the competitiveness of around 550 energy and trade-intensive firms across Great Britain. This results in a saving of between £65- £87 per megawatt hour.
Additionally, the Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan commits to £4.3bn of funding for Frontier Sectors over a five-year period including up to £2.8 billion for R&D funding alone.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy price differentials on the volume of UK services exports to CPTPP member nations.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Specific analysis on the impact of energy price differentials on services exports to CPTPP has not been produced.
The Government published an Impact Assessment in 2023 that estimated the potential impacts of UK accession to CPTPP, which found that the majority of services sectors are expected to see an increase in exports as a result of UK accession.
DBT is continually monitoring implementation of the agreement and will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of its impacts.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to brief UK trade envoys on the energy-related strengths of the UK’s low-carbon goods and services sector.
Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
Trade Envoys are briefed on each of the Industrial Strategy priority sectors, including the objectives of the Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, and the UK's strengths in these supply chains. Prior to a market visit, Trade Envoys are briefed on the key objectives and sectors outlined in each Country Trade Plan.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has assessed the potential effectiveness of Energy as a Service business models in reducing upfront capital barriers for UK manufacturers.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Business and Trade has made no formal assessment on the potential effectiveness of Energy as a Service business model in reducing upfront capital barriers for UK manufacturers.
More broadly, the Government recognises that upfront costs can be a barrier to investment. Measures such as the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme and the British Industry Supercharger will reduce electricity costs for eligible businesses, helping to improve investment conditions and support long-term competitiveness.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of fluctuations in energy prices on the availability of professional indemnity insurance for energy consultants.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Business and Trade has not conducted a formal assessment on the impact of fluctuations in energy prices on the availability of professional indemnity insurance for energy consultants.
Regulatory bodies like Ofgem monitor the broader energy supply chain for unfair practices and price volatility to bring stability to the market.
The government would always encourage business owners to shop around to find the most suitable insurance coverage, at the best price. Any business that is struggling to secure cover may wish to contact the British Insurance Brokers’ Association (BIBA). BIBA can offer guidance on how to look across the market for the best deals and may be able to provide names of specialist brokers. BIBA can be contacted at: www.biba.org.uk/find-insurance.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to publish key performance indicators on the impact of Government energy support on business productivity.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government currently does not have any plans to publish key performance indicators on the impact of current energy support schemes on business productivity. The Government has also not measured the impact of energy support schemes on the productivity of businesses who receive this support. However, we are closely monitoring the impact of energy prices on businesses and communities caused by the instability in the Middle East.
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of service charge increases due to communal energy costs on the viability of managed workspace providers.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Department for Business and Trade has made no formal assessment on the impact of service charge increases due to communal energy costs on the viability of managed workspace providers.
Ofgem is currently reviewing the Maximum Resale Price (MRP) rules, which protect tenants and consumers by ensuring landlords and site owners cannot profit from reselling gas and electricity. A key focus of this work involves modernising the framework to address EV charging, mixed-use buildings, and enforcement procedures.
As part of their 14th programme, the Law Commission will be carrying out a scoping exercise focusing on various issues including service charges.