Asked by: Alex Baker (Labour - Aldershot)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to help businesses to increase exports, improve productivity, and create more skilled jobs.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is putting exports at the heart of our growth mission to boost productivity and create skilled jobs across the UK. Through our Trade Strategy, we are removing barriers that hold UK businesses back from selling to the world by negotiating trade deals, tackling regulatory obstacles, and expanding export finance support.
For the first time, DBT has integrated its support in a single, accessible place - the Business Growth Service - helping firms build the capabilities needed to compete internationally. This includes tailored market advice, free Business Academy training, access to UK Export Finance and our on-the-ground network around the world.
Asked by: Alex Baker (Labour - Aldershot)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to reduce industrial energy bills.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Our modern Industrial Strategy will make British industrial electricity costs cheaper. From 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour (MWh) for over 10,000 manufacturing businesses in Industrial Strategy growth sectors and their foundational supply chains. The Government has also announced an additional payment for eligible businesses in 2027 to cover the 2026/27 period.
In addition to this, the British Industry Supercharger reduces electricity costs for eligible energy-intensive businesses by c.£65 – £87/MWh by exempting them from certain policy costs and offering 90% compensation for network charges through the Network Charging Compensation scheme.
Asked by: Alex Baker (Labour - Aldershot)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he has taken with Cabinet colleagues to tackle changes in the level of energy costs for businesses since July 2024; and what comparative assessment he has made of these steps compared to those taken before July 2024.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
In June 2025, the Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy proposed increased support for British Industry Supercharger recipients by uplifting the Network Charging Compensation Scheme from 60% to 90% from 1 April 2026. This uplift reduced the gap between electricity prices in Great Britain and other countries by a further £8–10/MWh for around 550 energy intensive businesses.
For manufacturing companies ineligible for the Supercharger, the Modern Industrial Strategy also announced the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). BICS is expected to support over 10,000 businesses, saving them up to £40/MWh from April 2027, with an additional payment in 2027 to cover the 2026/27 period.