Pippa Heylings

This Government’s position is that conversion practices are abuse. Such practices have no place in society and must be stopped. In the King’s Speech, the Government committed to bring forward a full, trans-inclusive ban on conversion practices.

Previous administrations failed to deliver on this issue and allowed the debate to become ever more toxic and divided.

We are committed to bringing forward legislation to finally ban these abusive practices, starting with publishing our draft Bill later this session.

We want everyone to have fair access to high quality care, which is respectful, inclusive and supports choice, control, and independence.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) sets out clinical guidelines for the provision of IVF services. NICE is currently reviewing its guidelines. In the light of broader pressures on the NHS and on-going changes within NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care is looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to services and fairness for all affected couples.

We want everyone to have fair access to high quality care, which is respectful, inclusive and supports choice, control, and independence.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) sets out clinical guidelines for the provision of IVF services. NICE is currently reviewing its guidelines. In the light of broader pressures on the NHS and on-going changes within NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care is looking again at achievable ambitions to improve access to services and fairness for all affected couples.

The EHRC recently concluded their consultation on the draft updated Code of Practice where they sought a wide range of views. The Government will consider the EHRC's final draft Code once submitted, ensuring that it clarifies the Equality Act’s single-sex exceptions which we have committed to uphold. The Office for Equality and Opportunity listens to a wide range of stakeholders’ diverse perspectives as it carries out its policy work.

Companies House supports the Registrar of Companies in the fulfilment of her functions to incorporate and dissolve companies, and to provide public access to company information by maintaining the public register of companies.

Insurance is a matter for individual companies and businesses. Where insurance is mandatory to operate or trade in a particular sector or environment, it would be for the relevant regulatory body to take action if a particular company’s insurance arrangements were inadequate. In England, Scotland and Wales the Health and Safety Executive enforces the legal requirement for businesses to maintain employers’ liability insurance.

Regulations require manufacturers to place only safe gas-fuelled and electric powered cookers and ovens on the market. Regulations require gas-fuelled cookers to be installed by a competent and Gas-Safe registered engineer. Landlords must ensure gas safety checks are carried out annually and have a Gas Safety Certificate for their property, and that electrical checks are carried out every five years, and that they obtain an Electrical Installation Condition Report.

The current Product Regulation and Metrology Bill will give the Government powers to amend and update existing product safety legislation should this be needed.

We have agreed new reciprocal market access on beef – with UK farmers given a guaranteed quota for 13,000 metric tonnes of beef exports at a very low tariff rate.

The deal does not change Britain’s high animal welfare and environmental standards. Imports of hormone treated beef or chlorinated chicken remain illegal. Our approach to this trade deal has ensured that agricultural imports coming into the UK meet the highest food standards.

This is a major opportunity for British farmers to increase their exports to the world's largest consumer market, helping them to grow their businesses.

Sector Plans are being designed in partnership with business, devolved governments, regions and other stakeholders, through bespoke arrangements tailored to each sector. This will vary by sector, but some may include Sector Councils, such as the well-established Life Sciences Council.

There will not be formal reporting structures between Sector Councils and the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council. However, we expect there to be close collaboration including through information sharing and joint-working as part of their role advising government on the delivery of the Industrial Strategy. The Council will continue a programme to engage widely across government.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is committed to supporting small businesses grow and export. UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support via Great.gov.uk. This comprises an online support offer and a wider network of support including the Export Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers.

DBT is also piloting an enhanced partnership with Greater Manchester Combined Authority, taking a targeted place-based approach to accelerate small business growth through exporting across the region. This will be rolled out to other regions across England over the next 12 months.

We will bring forward further measures in due course.

Growing the economy is a key mission for the Government, and we recognise the importance of boosting UK exports in achieving this. We are working hard to ensure that UK businesses, including those that sell e-bikes and pedal cycles, have the support they need to sell to the world and grow.

As part of our work on a new trade strategy and a small business strategy, we are looking at further proposals to help UK businesses, including those that sell e-bikes and pedal cycles, export more.

UK bicycle manufacturers will benefit from the Secretary of State's vision to support all businesses as outlined in the Government’s Industrial and Trade Strategies. These strategies aim to boost scale-ups, grow the co-operative economy, create thriving high streets, make it easier to access finance, open up overseas and domestic markets, build capabilities, and provide a strong business environment. Recently, the Business Secretary announced a new Business Growth Service (BGS) to streamline the process for businesses across the UK to access the support they need to grow. The Department will continue to engage with the industry on key issues moving forward.

The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 introduced new powers that build on the existing controls of company names. These powers will be used in accordance with the Registrar’s new statutory objectives.

The Registrars of Companies can now reject a proposed company name where they have reason to believe that a name is intended to facilitate fraud. Companies can be directed to change their name in more circumstances and the Registrar can determine a new name for the company.

No formal assessment has been completed; however, the Department has engaged with key industry brands on issues and will continue to do so moving forward. The industry has recently faced significant headwinds, impacting growth and profitability. Despite this, the industry is stabilising with some retailers reporting positive financial performance. There are signs of recovery and potential growth in key high-demand areas such as Road, Gravel, and Electric Mountain Bikes.

Under the umbrella of the recently announced Business Growth Service, UK businesses can access DBT’s wealth of export support via Great.gov.uk. This comprises an online support offer and a wider network of support including the Export Academy, UK Export Finance, the International Markets network and one-to-one support from International Trade Advisers.

This support is available to all UK businesses including those that sell and wish to export bicycles.

The Government recognises the role community energy plays in ensuring that the public benefits directly from the energy transition and, in partnership with Great British Energy (GBE), is taking steps to maximise that role, including exploring a definition for community energy which could provide clarity to a number of relevant stakeholders when engaging with community energy organisations.

GBE will supercharge existing support to local and community energy projects. To support stakeholders in accessing and deploying funding, GBE will also provide commercial, technical and project planning assistance, increasing capacity and capability to build a pipeline of successful projects in local areas.

The Government recognises the important role of local places in driving action to help realise our national net zero targets. Local government has autonomy and flexibility in how they choose to deliver net zero, according to the varying needs and opportunities of each local area.

Government provides a range of support for local government to deliver net zero; for example, Great British Energy, our new publicly-owned energy company, will support local energy generation by partnering with local government to increase the roll-out of renewable energy projects. Government also funds the Local Net Zero Hubs which support local authorities across England to develop net zero projects and attract commercial investment, including through information and knowledge-sharing.

Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) are upgrading local electricity distribution networks to enable the decarbonisation of households and businesses across Great Britain, including in rural areas. For the current electricity distribution price control (2023-2028), Ofgem have allowed £22.2bn of upfront investment, including £3.1bn for network upgrades for low-carbon technologies. Regional Energy Strategic Plans will consider local area energy requirements and will inform DNO investment plans for the next electricity distribution price control (2028-2033), ensuring timely reinforcement of local electricity networks for rural communities.

The Government recognises the importance of communities being at the heart of the energy transition and the benefits of communities owning energy infrastructure in their own community. Great British Energy will take forward the Local Power Plan and working alongside DESNZ to unlock regulatory changes will drive forward an expanded community energy sector across the UK. We will say more about the Local Power Plan in due course.

My Department regularly looks to good practice from other countries and will continue to build on those experiences and lessons learned as we jointly develop the Local Power Plan with Great British Energy.

My Department engaged extensively with Ofgem, NESO, and stakeholders on the 2031-35 solar capacity ranges figures in the Clean Power Action Plan. In April, we published an update to the Action Plan to reflect the recent trend of an increased solar project pipeline at transmission. [1]

Connections reform will benefit Contracts for Difference competition and achieving clean power by prioritising projects that are progressing and aligned with our strategic needs. Projects which hold CfD contracts, for example, will automatically be considered strategically aligned and will be eligible for a confirmed connection agreement as part of the reformed connections queue.

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/clean-power-2030-action-plan-solar-capacity-update-letter-to-neso/clean-power-2030-action-plan-solar-capacity-update-letter-to-neso-7-april-2025

We have a clear mission to make the UK a clean energy superpower. This transition will make people better off now and for generations to come. We remain committed to supporting people to realise the benefits and design policies that are responsive to their needs.

By end of October 2025, we will deliver an updated plan that sets out the policy package out to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 for all sectors of the economy.

We will also publish a Net Zero Public Participation Strategy which will set out how we will support people to access the benefits of new technologies and ensure that diverse perspectives are considered in net zero policy making.

Looking ahead, we will set Carbon Budget 7 by June 2026, in line with our statutory duties. This will set out the next phase of our pathway to net zero to continue to secure the economic and societal benefits of the net zero transition.

The Secretary of State has the statutory authority to determine the sustainability criteria for biomass subsidies either by secondary legislation such as regulations under the Renewables Obligation scheme, or by determining the terms of a contract under the Contracts for Difference scheme.

While the Secretary of State sets the sustainability framework, it is for relevant regulators such as Ofgem, or the Low-Carbon Contracts Company as the contractual counterparty to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme, to enforce sustainability requirements.

Government only supports biomass that satisfies sustainability criteria. The proposed Low-Carbon Dispatchable CfD will strengthen sustainability criteria by excluding biomass sourced from primary forest and old-growth areas from receiving subsidy.

The 2035 capacity ranges present credible pathways to decarbonise our energy system and provide certainty to investors by ensuring a 10-year horizon for connection offers. NESO will use the ranges to underpin connection offers out to 2035. The 2035 figures are interim, to enable connection reform to proceed at pace, and are subject to updates through the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, which will be published in 2026.

The Oil & Gas Authority (operating as the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA)) are the licensing authority for offshore oil & gas. The NSTA are also responsible for granting consents and authorisations for subsequent activities (including development consents) under the Petroleum Act 1998. The NSTA requires Secretary of State’s agreement under relevant environmental regulations prior to granting any licence, consent or authorisation.

The Oil & Gas Authority (operating as the North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA)) are the licensing authority for offshore oil & gas. The NSTA are also responsible for granting consents and authorisations for subsequent activities (including development consents) under the Petroleum Act 1998. The NSTA requires Secretary of State’s agreement under relevant environmental regulations prior to granting any licence, consent or authorisation.

We value the CCC’s independent advice and expertise on progress against our targets. We will deliver an updated plan that sets out the policy package out to the end of Carbon Budget 6 in 2037 for all the sectors in due course. This will outline the policies and proposals needed to deliver Carbon Budgets 4-6 and our NDC commitments on a pathway to net zero. Government will consider CCC’s already published independent advice on Carbon Budgets as well as annual progress reports to Government ahead of publishing the new Plan.

The KPMG report is an internal fact-finding document, commissioned by Drax to review their biomass supply chain against the sustainability requirements of existing arrangements. Whilst DESNZ Officials were granted time limited access to view the report, we do not hold a copy. We therefore have no means or rights to share the report.

NESO published a summary of its advice to DESNZ (here). Given the focus of this analysis is on specific companies, it is commercially sensitive and cannot be shared publicly. This is the right approach to ensure security of our electricity system at a fair price for consumers.

The Government has agreed Heads of Terms with Drax for time-limited support from 2027 to 2031. The National Energy System Operator advised that without Drax we would face increased security of supply risks from 2027 to 2031. No decisions have been made on Drax’s future after 2031.

Over the next decade, more and more of our ageing gas and nuclear assets will retire. Government is bringing forward options for low carbon dispatchable power such as hydrogen and gas with carbon capture. But energy security is essential and we will retain existing assets where it is in the country’s interest to do so.

Following the Panorama reports, Ofgem, as the independent regulator, conducted a comprehensive investigation into Drax’s sustainability arrangements and concluded that, whilst no subsidies were issued for unsustainable biomass, there was an absence of adequate data governance and controls. We are confident in Ofgem’s conclusion, and Drax accepted the findings of the investigation and made a voluntary redress payment of £25m.

Further to this, we have tightened the sustainability criteria under the new Contract for Difference, including strict provisions to exclude material sourced from primary and old growth forests under the contract.