Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether she is taking steps to support (a) the meat industry and (b) independent butchers with high energy costs.

The Energy Bills Discount Scheme provides all eligible businesses and other non-domestic energy users with a baseline discount on high energy bills for 12 months from April 2023 until 31 March 2024.

A higher level of support will be provided to some Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (ETIIs) for 70% of their energy. Industries eligible for this support include certain meat and fish processing businesses.

A full list of eligible industries is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-bills-discount-scheme-factsheet/energy-bills-discount-scheme-energy-and-trade-intense-industries-assessment-methodology#annex-a-list-of-eligible-sectors-for-energy-and-trade-intensive-industries