Oral Answers to Questions

Heather Wheeler Excerpts

Tuesday 4th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Andrew Bowie]

I really wish the Labour party would stop talking down what we are doing on renewable electricity. I remind the House that the consultation on onshore wind finishes on 7 July.

[Mrs Heather Wheeler (South Derbyshire) (Con)]

6. What assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of additional support for energy and trade intensive industries.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Amanda Solloway)]

Wholesale energy prices have fallen significantly since the peak of the energy crisis, so the energy bill discount scheme strikes a balance between providing support and certainty to business and limiting the impact on public finances.

[Mrs Wheeler]

I thank my hon. Friend for a proper Derbyshire answer. Can she give more information on how the Government are working to help wedding venues and hospitality in general with extreme costs for electricity and gas, particularly where businesses have signed long-term contracts in the face of falling world prices?

[Amanda Solloway]

I thank my hon. Friend from South Derbyshire—it is a great county to live in, with great hospitality—for her question. Businesses, including the hospitality sector, have already benefited from the energy bill relief scheme, which ended on 31 March and provided £7.4 billion of support. We are mindful of the fixed-term contracts, which are a supplier issue, and we are constantly engaging with stakeholders and suppliers on that.