Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of energy cost pressures for the life sciences and laboratory sectors.

The Government is aware of the pressure of high industrial energy costs in the life sciences and laboratory sectors. Officials from the Office for Life Sciences regularly engage with both companies and Trade Associations to understand the challenges facing the sector.

As one of the sectors within the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, many manufacturing life sciences businesses will benefit from the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. The scheme will bring GB electricity costs more in line with other major economies in Europe, and level the playing field for British businesses.