Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the number of small and medium businesses in the North East eligible for cost- reduction support programmes following the Willow Review.

The Government is committed to supporting businesses of all sizes in the transition to net zero. We are helping SMEs countrywide access sustainability benefits through initiatives such as the new Business Growth Service, the UK Business Climate Hub (UKBCH) for decarbonisation advice, and the rollout of smart meters

Following the Willow Review, £200,000 has been allocated to enhance UKBCH and integrate it with the Business Growth Service. Additionally, £150,000 extra funding has been allocated to the North East Made Smarter Adoption programme this year, to provide Energy Efficiency grants for manufacturing SMEs. The network of local Growth Hubs, including North East Growth Hub, offer tailored support at any stage of a business's journey and can signpost to these new and improved offers.