Energy Prices: Support for Business Debate
Full Debate: Read Full DebateDepartment: Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Rachel Hopkins
Main Page: Rachel Hopkins (Labour - Luton South)Department Debates - View all Rachel Hopkins's debates with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Energy Prices: Support for Business
Rachel Hopkins Excerpts(1 year, 7 months ago)
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Rachel Hopkins (Luton South) (Lab)
I want to try again on local authorities, because I am not sure the Secretary of State understands that the review is simply too late. Too many councils already face budget holes—Luton Council faces a budget hole of £10 million this year—because of increasing energy costs, inflationary pressures and increasing demands. Has he had any conversations with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities about the budget planning process? Local authorities are required to produce medium-term budgets before April next year.
Mr Rees-Mogg
The degree of certainty that is being offered is greater than in a normal year. We are saying that what will happen will be announced after the three-month review has taken place, in plenty of time for 1 April. Normally, local authorities are dependent on the vicissitudes of the market.