Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to help tackle the impact of the rising cost of (a) gas and (b) energy on tourist attractions in Newport West constituency.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Energy Bill Relief Scheme came into force on the 1 November and will provide a discount on energy bills for all eligible non-domestic customers, including small businesses on non-domestic tariffs and businesses running tourist attractions, whose current gas and electricity prices have been significantly inflated in light of global energy prices. Small businesses that are on domestic tariffs will receive support through the domestic Energy Price Guarantee scheme.
The schemes will initially run for 6 months covering energy use from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023 and will help support growth, prevent unnecessary insolvencies and protect jobs.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on proposals to support small businesses in Newport West constituency.
Answered by Dean Russell
BEIS works regularly with the Welsh Government on a range of issues, including support for business. Although many of the levers are devolved, the UK Government has acted to protect Welsh businesses from rising energy bills this winter, through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme.
The Government’s Growth Plan cuts taxes and energy bills for businesses. The Plan will drive more private sector investment and cut red tape.
The Start Up Loans Company, part of the Government-owned British Business Bank, provides support to new entrepreneurs. Since the Start Up Loans programme was launched in 2012, it has provided 161 loans to businesses in Newport West, totalling £1,612,340.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to help support pubs in Newport West constituency with increases in the cost of energy.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government announced a new six-month scheme – the Energy Price Guarantee for Businesses (EPGB) – to protect all businesses and other non-domestic energy users from soaring energy costs. It will offer comparable support to that being provided for consumers and we expect the scheme to be available in the autumn. After this initial six-month scheme the Government will provide focused support for vulnerable sectors, targeted to make sure those most in need get support.
The Government is also supporting pubs with business rates relief, freezing alcohol duty rates on beer, cider, wine and spirits, and by increasing the employment allowance.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, if he will make an assessment of the impact of rising energy costs on the glass manufacturing sector.
Answered by Graham Stuart
The Government is determined to secure a competitive future for energy intensive industries (EIIs) including the glass industry. In recent years, the Government has provided EIIs with extensive support, including more than £2 billion to help with the costs of energy and to protect jobs. The British Energy Security Strategy announced the three-year extension of the EII Compensation Scheme, doubling its budget. The Strategy also announced a consultation on plans to consider increasing support offered by the related EII Exemption Scheme. That consultation closed on the 16 September and the Government will respond in due course.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, when he last held discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the Mayor of London's Solar Action Plan.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Ministers are in regular contact with Cabinet colleagues to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest, including options for facilitating deployment of low-cost renewable technologies such as solar PV.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how much his Department spent on energy in each of the last three years.
Answered by Graham Stuart
At the Department’s headquarters building at 1 Victoria Street, London, the net spend on gas and electricity for the last three financial years was as follows:
| 2019/20 | 2020/21 | 2021/22 |
Gas | £76,668 | £100,439 | £136,274 |
Electricity | £641,927 | £455,386 | £563,925 |
Total | £718,595 | £555,825 | £700,199 |
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what assessment he has made of the cost to consumers of poor business practices.
Answered by Jane Hunt
The Government published the Consumer Protection Study in April 2022. The study explores many factors contributing to consumer detriment including some which could be considered poor business practices such as misleading advertising, unfair terms and conditions and misleading pricing. The study can be viewed at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/consumer-protection-study-2022.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what discussions he has had with the Welsh Government on the potential impact of increases in the energy price cap on living standards.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Government understands the pressures that households are facing with the cost of living and in particular, the impact rising energy prices is having on consumers.
The Government recently announced a £15 billion package to support households with the cost of living, in addition to the over £22 billion previously committed, to help domestic energy customers with the cost of living and rising energy bills.
This support includes helping all domestic electricity customers in Great Britain cope with the impact of higher energy bills, with £400 off their bills from October through the expansion of the Energy Bills Support Scheme.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent discussions he has had with representatives of the British glass industry.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
BEIS ministers and officials regularly meet with glass manufacturers, British Glass and through the Energy Intensive Users Group to discuss a number of issues relevant to the glass sector.
Asked by: Ruth Jones (Labour - Newport West)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has had discussions with the Welsh Government on the impact of rising fuel costs on the road hauliers industry in that country.
Answered by Greg Hands - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Road Haulage sector is a matter for the Department of Transport.
At the Spring Statement 2022, the Government announced a temporary 12-month cut to duty on petrol and diesel of 5 pence per litre as part of ongoing Government efforts to address the rising cost of living.
The Government estimates that this cut represents a saving worth around £1,500 for the average road haulier over the next six months.