Asked by: Kate Kniveton (Conservative - Burton)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what progress his Department has made in implementing a scheme to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for (a) park home residents and (b) other households in the one per cent who will not be reached through the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
Answered by Graham Stuart
As announced on 29 July, the EBSS Alternative Funding will be available to provide equivalent support of £400 for energy bills for the households who will not be reached through the EBSS. This includes those who do not have a domestic electricity meter or a direct relationship with an energy supplier.
The Government is working to make the support available to applicants as soon as possible and is working with a range of organisations, such as local authorities, Devolved Administrations and across the UK Government, to finalise the details of the Alternative Funding and have the process up and running for applications this winter.
Asked by: Kate Kniveton (Conservative - Burton)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to help ensure a competitive market for domestic energy users.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government continues to believe that competition is the best driver of value and innovation in the energy market. However, there has been less scope for competition in the supply market during this period of high and volatile wholesale gas and electricity prices.
The Government wants a retail energy market that is both resilient and competitive, with companies able to invest in innovation and offer products and services that support decarbonisation. The Government is considering what reforms are needed to retail market regulation and will set out its plans ahead of the next price cap period.
Asked by: Kate Kniveton (Conservative - Burton)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to help ensure that energy companies are able to offer competitive prices for (a) commercial and (b) residential premises.
Answered by Greg Hands
Contractual terms offered to businesses are a commercial matter for energy suppliers. The Government encourages businesses to shop around to find the best deal. For domestic customers, the energy price cap will continue to ensure energy prices are limited.
Asked by: Kate Kniveton (Conservative - Burton)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of levels of competition in the UK energy market.
Answered by Greg Hands
The Government continues to believe that competition is the best driver of value and innovation in the energy market. However, there has been less scope for competition in the supply market during this period of high and volatile wholesale gas and electricity prices.
The Government wants a retail energy market that is both resilient and competitive, with companies able to invest in innovation and offer products and services that support decarbonisation. The Government is considering what reforms are needed to retail market regulation and will set out its plans ahead of the next price cap period
Asked by: Kate Kniveton (Conservative - Burton)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when his Department plans to publish the outcome of the Measures to reform post-termination non-compete clauses in contracts of employment consultation, which closed on 26 February 2021.
Answered by Paul Scully
The Government is in the process of analysing responses to the consultation and the available data, which will help inform decisions on detailed policy questions. Any decisions to progress with reforms to non-compete clauses require consideration of the benefits and risks before implementation and we are not able to provide further comment on future plans at this stage. A response to the consultation will be published on the GOV.UK website in due course.