Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.
e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.
If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.
If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).
Limit the shooting season of Woodcock
Gov Responded - 11 Oct 2022 Debated on - 27 Feb 2023 View Alex Sobel's petition debate contributionsMark Avery , Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay (Wild Justice) want the opening of the Woodcock shooting season to be pushed back to 1 December. 160,000 Woodcock are shot for fun across the UK whilst their population is declining. The Defra Secretary of State has powers to vary the shooting season.
Create an emergency fund for ASD (autism) & ADHD assessments
Gov Responded - 14 Dec 2021 Debated on - 6 Feb 2023 View Alex Sobel's petition debate contributionsThe Government should create an emergency fund to deal with the massive waiting lists for autism & ADHD assessments for children AND adults. This would provide resources for local health services deal with current waiting lists and new patients.
Review management of ADHD assessments and increase funding
Gov Responded - 21 Apr 2022 Debated on - 6 Feb 2023 View Alex Sobel's petition debate contributionsThe Government should commission a review of how Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessments are managed by the NHS, including through Shared Care Agreements, and increase funding to reduce waiting times.
Ensure Trans people are fully protected under any conversion therapy ban
Gov Responded - 12 May 2022 Debated on - 13 Jun 2022 View Alex Sobel's petition debate contributionsEnsure any ban fully includes trans people and all forms of conversion therapy.
VALERIE'S LAW Compulsory Training for Agencies Supporting Black DV Victims
Gov Responded - 6 Jul 2021 Debated on - 28 Mar 2022 View Alex Sobel's petition debate contributionsMake specialist training mandatory for all police and other government agencies that support black women and girls affected by domestic abuse. Police and agencies should have culturally appropriate training to better understand the cultural needs of black women affected by domestic abuse.
Change the law to include laboratory animals in the Animal Welfare Act.
Gov Responded - 20 Aug 2021 Debated on - 7 Feb 2022 View Alex Sobel's petition debate contributionsThe Government needs to change the law so laboratory animals are included in the Animal Welfare Act. Laboratory animals are currently not protected by the Act and are therefore victims of 'unnecessary suffering' (see section 4 of the Act: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/section/4).
Stop work on HS2 immediately and hold a new vote to repeal the legislation
Gov Responded - 14 Jan 2021 Debated on - 13 Sep 2021 View Alex Sobel's petition debate contributionsWe ask Parliament to repeal the High Speed Rail Bills, 2016 and 2019, as MPs voted on misleading environmental, financial and timetable information provided by the Dept of Transport and HS2 Ltd. It fails to address the conditions of the Paris Accord and costs have risen from £56bn to over £100bn.
Prioritise teachers, school and childcare staff for Covid-19 vaccination
Gov Responded - 23 Feb 2021 Debated on - 11 Jan 2021 View Alex Sobel's petition debate contributionsAdvice from the JCVI on the priority groups for a Covid-19 vaccine does not include school/childcare workers. This petition calls for these workers, who cannot distance or use PPE, to be kept safe at work by being put on the vaccine priority list when such a list is adopted into government policy.
These initiatives were driven by Alex Sobel, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.
MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.
Alex Sobel has not been granted any Urgent Questions
Alex Sobel has not been granted any Adjournment Debates
Alex Sobel has not introduced any legislation before Parliament
Co-operatives (Permanent Shares) Bill 2022-23
Sponsor - Gareth Thomas (LAB)
Firearms and Hate Crime Bill 2021-22
Sponsor - Luke Pollard (LAB)
Wellbeing of Future Generations (No. 2) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Caroline Lucas (Green)
Fur Trade (Prohibition) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Taiwo Owatemi (Lab)
Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies (Environmentally Sustainable Investment) Bill 2019-21
Sponsor - Anna McMorrin (Lab)
Planning (Affordable Housing and Land Compensation) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Helen Hayes (Lab)
Dockless Bicycles (Regulation) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Daniel Zeichner (Lab)
Plastic Pollution (No. 2) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alistair Carmichael (LD)
Plastic Pollution Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alistair Carmichael (LD)
Packaging (Extended Producer Responsibility) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Anna McMorrin (Lab)
Marriage and Civil Partnership (Consent) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Fabian Hamilton (Lab)
Energy Consumption (Innovative Technologies) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Rebecca Pow (Con)
Banking (Cash Machine Charges and Financial Inclusion) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Ged Killen (LAB)
Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018
Sponsor - Karen Buck (Lab)
Local Electricity Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Jeremy Lefroy (Con)
Youth (Services and Provisions) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Lloyd Russell-Moyle (LAB)
Assaults on Retail Workers (Offences) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - Alex Norris (LAB)
DiGeorge Syndrome (Review and National Health Service Duty) Bill 2017-19
Sponsor - David Duguid (Con)
The Government’s arm’s length body (ALB) for grassroots sport, Sport England, has a process for recognising activities. The objective of the recognition process is to identify sports that Sport England may wish to work with and the national bodies that govern them. The process is run jointly with the other three Home Country Sports Councils and UK Sport.
When deciding if an activity can be recognised, the Sports Councils refer to the definition of sport contained within the Council of Europe’s European Sports Charter. This states that:
“Sport means all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation aim at expressing or improving physical fitness and mental well-being, forming social relationships or obtaining results in competition at all levels.”
As an example of this process, the English Chess Federation made an application for recognition in 2008, but this was turned down as the Sports Councils did not consider chess to be a physical activity. Therefore, it did not meet the Council of Europe’s definition.
We are aware that some people use titles that do not indicate gender – for example Dr, Rev, Major or Mx. Individuals can decide what title they want to use on forms, without going through a formal process, and organisations are free to decide the best way of collecting titles for their needs.
We are aware that some people use titles that do not indicate gender – for example Dr, Rev, Major or Mx. Individuals can decide what title they want to use on forms, without going through a formal process, and organisations are free to decide the best way of collecting titles for their needs.
We are aware that some people use titles that do not indicate gender – for example Dr, Rev, Major or Mx. Individuals can decide what title they want to use on forms, without going through a formal process, and organisations are free to decide the best way of collecting titles for their needs.
The cross-sectoral Period Poverty Taskforce has provided a clearer understanding of the problem of period poverty and the expert solutions to address the barriers faced by all who have periods. Alongside this, work across government will ensure that people in schools, colleges, hospitals and police custody can access period products with dignity. Further announcements on the plans and the work of the Taskforce will be made in due course.
In 2022 following the publication of independent research, the CPS launched its long-term Victim Transformation Programme, setting out their commitment to improve the service they provide to all victims. This programme will deliver a new Universal Service to improve the experience of all victims, and an Enhanced Service to support victims with the greatest need, helping ensure they remain engaged with the criminal justice system. Under Operation Soteria, and as part of the programme, over half of all CPS areas are now testing new, innovative approaches to engaging with adult rape victims. I was glad to see this work on a visit to the CPS in Bristol last November where I heard first hand from the CPS and support service providers about the success of the work so far. |
The revised Attorney General’s Disclosure Guidelines published in May 2022 introduced increased privacy protections for victims in respect of their counselling notes being accessed during the course of a criminal investigation. Prior written reasons must be recorded before accessing counselling notes of victims, and access can only occur where it is necessary and proportionate. The Attorney General’s Disclosure Guidelines are kept under constant review to ensure they are operating as intended. My officials and I engage with victims’ representatives, as did my predecessor and extensively so during the recent review. I will continue to monitor the effective operation of Disclosure to ensure my guidelines support victims by ensuring the recently introduced robust tests to accessing sensitive material are applied by investigators and prosecutors. |
The recent review of Disclosure found that too much third-party material, including victims counselling and therapy notes, were being accessed. The revised Attorney General’s Disclosure Guidelines published in May 2022 addressed this and introduced increased privacy protections for victims. Prior written reasons must be recorded before accessing this material, and access can only occur where it is necessary and proportionate. Pre-trial therapy notes will now only be accessed in the rare circumstances that they are absolutely necessary to a reasonable line of inquiry. This ensures significant protections for victims while maintaining a fair trial. |
The revised Attorney General’s Disclosure Guidelines published in May 2022 introduced increased privacy protections for victims in respect of their counselling notes being accessed during the course of a criminal investigation. Prior written reasons must be recorded before accessing counselling notes of victims, and access can only occur where it is necessary and proportionate The CPS guidance on pre-trial therapy for prosecutors and investigators is clear that prior to approaching a therapist about material relating to the victim that might be relevant to the investigation, the police should seek the agreement of the victim to this approach being made and inform the victim of their right to object at any time to the processing of their personal data which may follow. The Home Office has also recently concluded a consultation on police requests for personal records (‘third party material’). The response to this consultation and next steps will be published shortly. |
The revised Attorney General’s Disclosure Guidelines published in May 2022 introduced increased privacy protections for victims in respect of their counselling notes being accessed during the course of a criminal investigation. Prior written reasons must be recorded before accessing counselling notes of victims, and access can only occur where it is necessary and proportionate. Simultaneously with the amended Attorney General’s Disclosure Guidance the CPS published guidance on pre-trial therapy for prosecutors and investigators. The CPS Guidance is clear that prior to approaching a therapist about material relating to the victim that might be relevant to the investigation, the police should seek the agreement of the victim to this approach being made and inform the victim of their right to object at any time to the processing of their personal data which may follow. |
The recent review of Disclosure found that too much third-party material, including victims counselling and therapy notes, were being accessed. The review heard from victims’ groups that this leads to victims facing an impossible decision to either seek justice or seek therapy The revised Attorney General’s Disclosure Guidelines published in May 2022 addressed this and introduced increased privacy protections for victims. Prior written reasons must be recorded before accessing this material, and access can only occur where it is necessary and proportionate.In alignment and simultaneously with the amended Attorney General’s Disclosure Guidance the CPS published guidance on pre-trial therapy for prosecutors and investigators. The guidance opens with the clear and definitive principles that: The health and wellbeing of the victim should always be the determinative factor in whether, when and with whom they seek pre-trial therapy. It is for the victim to make decisions about therapy with their therapist, including what type of therapy is obtained and when that therapy is obtained. |
In May, the Government published the review of disclosure and amended the Disclosure Guidelines, in order to further support victims of crime. Updated principles on accessing third party material have strengthened protections for victims and restrict access to such material only where it is necessary, proportionate and linked to a reasonable line of inquiry in the case. The police must have clear, written reasons in place before accessing any material such as therapy notes. This is a new requirement which improves transparency and accountability. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has also issued clear guidance on accessing pre-trial therapy notes. This makes clear that victims should get the help that they feel they need and that neither investigators nor prosecutors will stand in the way of this. |
Each individual government service decides what constitutes acceptable forms of identification, based on the requirements of the service.
In Cabinet Office, Government Digital Service, in collaboration with other government departments, is developing a single sign-on and identity verification service, named GOV.UK One Login. One Login will allow people to create and reuse a digital identity to access public services.
One Login’s secure and robust identity checking process currently accepts two forms of photographic documentation: passports and driving licences.
We recognise that not everyone has a passport or driving licence and therefore, over time, we will implement other ways for users to verify their identity when using GOV.UK One Login. This is to ensure as many people as possible can access the services they need online.
This will involve reviewing options to use the disabled persons bus pass in due course.
As the Prime Minister previously announced, the Government will set out the Commission membership and terms of reference in due course.
On 5 July, the Government introduced the Elections Bill which includes measures to remove the current 15 year rule and enfranchise all British citizens for UK Parliamentary elections who were previously registered or resident in the UK.
The passage of the Bill can be followed here https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3020.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have, therefore, asked the Authority to respond.
We appreciate that people will be thinking about how they can safely mark halloween. Local Authorities will communicate relevant advice on halloween in their area, and the Government is working with Local Authorities to support understanding of how the social distancing rules apply.
We have seen no evidence of successful interference in the EU Referendum. The Intelligence and Security Agencies produce regular assessments of the threat posed by Hostile State Activity, including around potential interference in UK democratic processes.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority. I have therefore asked the Authority to respond.
In making decisions on whether to grant a licence to permit something otherwise prohibited by sanctions legislation & regulations, the Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU), comprised of subject matter experts and officials in the Department for Business and Trade, the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and the Ministry of Defence, acts on behalf of the Secretary of State. ECJU is obligated to consider applications on a case-by-case basis, determining whether granting a licence would be consistent with the stated purposes of the sanctions regime, licensing grounds, and United Nations or international law obligations. When assessing applications ECJU also consults and considers views from a range of other government departments.
The Government has always been clear that businesses are expected to make every effort to repay their Bounce Back Loans (BBLs). However, the Government also recognises that some borrowers might require greater flexibility and more time to make their repayments. That is why, for BBLs, the then Chancellor introduced ‘Pay as You Grow’ measures, allowing borrowers to tailor repayments to their individual circumstances. ‘Pay as You Grow’ provides borrowers with a range of options to manage their repayments flexibly. A business facing difficulty making BBLs repayments should contact their lender in the first instance to discuss their options.
The UK and U.S. are expanding the work we do together across the full spectrum of our economic, technological, commercial and trade relations through the Atlantic Declaration. Discussions with the U.S. on next steps under this first-of-its-kind agreement are ongoing.
Ministers and officials regularly engage with a wide range of stakeholders including business groups, civil society and SMEs in both the UK and the U.S. on a range of trade matters.
We will also continue to update Parliament as our work develops. The Department also hosts updates on the Government’s trade agenda. These sessions are open to all MPs.
The Government will not compromise on our high environmental protections and food standards in trade deals. Trade agreements to which we sign up will respect the regulatory autonomy of both the UK and our trading partners, including on pesticides. All agri-food products imported into the UK under existing or future free trade agreements will, as now, have to comply with our import requirements. This applies to the UK’s accession to CPTPP, as it does to our other deals. We will ensure decisions on the use of pesticides are based on careful scientific assessment and will not authorise pesticides that may carry unacceptable risks to people or the environment.
Figures on the amount of imported wood and waste wood by country is published in The Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) Table 6.6, but information on sites is not collected. Imports of waste wood are used in the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors and all imports of wood are burnt in the domestic sector; of the 2,319 thousand tonnes of wood consumed in the domestic sector in 2022, 198 thousand tonnes were imported.
Figures on the amount of imported wood and waste wood by country is published in The Digest of UK Energy Statistics (DUKES) Table 6.6, but information on sites is not collected. Imports of waste wood are used in the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors and all imports of wood are burnt in the domestic sector; of the 2,319 thousand tonnes of wood consumed in the domestic sector in 2022, 198 thousand tonnes were imported.
The Department has previously undertaken assessments of the potential CCUS capabilities of industrial clusters across the UK, including the HyNet, East Coast Cluster, Acorn, and Viking clusters, as part of the Cluster Sequencing Process. The guidance and eligibility criteria for these assessments is available on gov.uk.
CCUS will be essential to meeting the UK’s 2050 net zero target, playing a vital role in levelling up the economy, supporting the low-carbon economic transformation of our industrial regions, creating new high value jobs across the UK. We remain committed to industrial decarbonisation across all nations and regions of the UK as we work toward net zero.
Mobile Network Operators have announced long-term plans for sunsetting 2G and 3G networks by the end of 2033. The Government is already working with industry to support a smooth transition for consumers in advance of this.
Energy suppliers are obliged to upgrade smart meter communications hubs for those customers that will require this, as part of ensuring continuity of connectivity.
The Data Communications Company, which is licensed to operate the national communications network for smart metering, has already procured the services to enable future 4G smart metering network infrastructure.
Energy suppliers have a range of technologies to extend smart metering Home Area Network (HAN) connectivity where there are obstacles such as solid concrete floors between the apartment and the meter.
Suppliers are already rolling out 'dual band' communications hubs which can operate on two different frequencies and therefore serve many previously hard to reach properties.
For the minority of properties that cannot be served by the 'dual band' communications hub, deployment of an ‘Alternative Home Area Network’ (ALT HAN) solution began earlier this year, which provides smart meter connectivity for additional properties, such as the higher floors of high-rise buildings.
The Energy Bill will provide powers for setting technical standards for Energy Smart Appliances (ESAs), including EV chargepoints, and for future reform of the Energy Performance of Buildings (EPB) Regulations.
The Government intends to consult on possible changes to EPB regulations and on draft ESA regulations and will work with industry to deliver the necessary protections for the energy system and consumers.
However, there are no immediate plans to update the Energy Performance Certificate system for the emerging bidirectional technology and market. There are also no plans to amend the Energy Bill.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) enforces the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021. The legislation includes investigatory and civil sanctions powers, and requires enforcement decisions to be taken on a case-by-case basis. OPSS uses its powers to accept time-limited enforcement undertakings, including in relation to the cybersecurity provisions, as a proportionate measure to bring chargepoint sellers into compliance where appropriate and as prescribed under the regulations. Government continues to monitor the domestic and workplace chargepoint market to ensure that consumer protections and a thriving market are in place to help maximise the uptake of smart charging.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) enforces the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021. The legislation includes investigatory and civil sanctions powers, and requires enforcement decisions to be taken on a case-by-case basis. OPSS uses its powers to accept time-limited enforcement undertakings, including in relation to the cybersecurity provisions, as a proportionate measure to bring chargepoint sellers into compliance where appropriate and as prescribed under the regulations. Government continues to monitor the domestic and workplace chargepoint market to ensure that consumer protections and a thriving market are in place to help maximise the uptake of smart charging.
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) enforces the Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021. The legislation includes investigatory and civil sanctions powers, and requires enforcement decisions to be taken on a case-by-case basis. OPSS uses its powers to accept time-limited enforcement undertakings, including in relation to the cybersecurity provisions, as a proportionate measure to bring chargepoint sellers into compliance where appropriate and as prescribed under the regulations. Government continues to monitor the domestic and workplace chargepoint market to ensure that consumer protections and a thriving market are in place to help maximise the uptake of smart charging.
All licensed domestic electricity suppliers are participating in delivering the Energy Bills Support Scheme. On 25th September 2022, The then Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy issued a Direction under Section 7(3) of the Electricity Act 1989 to enable Ofgem to implement the scheme through modifications to suppliers’ standard licence conditions.
Households without a licensed domestic electricity supply contract are not eligible for the Scheme and can apply for equivalent support through the EBSS Alternative Funding.
Companies supplying no more than 5MW of electricity which they generate themselves, of which only 2.5MW are supplied to domestic consumers, are not required to hold or register for a supply licence.
The Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF) will be delivered by Local Authorities in Great Britain, and a contracted delivery partner in Northern Ireland, rather than private energy suppliers. We are expecting to pay Local Authorities and the contracted delivery partner ahead of scheme launch, or as soon after that as we receive their payment details, which we have requested. The exact date that an eligible household will receive support will depend on when the application is made and when the payment can be processed by the relevant Local Authority.
Private energy suppliers will not administer payments for the Energy Bills Support Scheme Alternative Funding (EBSS AF). EBSS AF payments will be delivered by 363 Local Authorities across England, Scotland and Wales, and by a contracted delivery partner in Northern Ireland. Guidance will be provided to them this month, ahead of the scheme launch.
The department does not currently have plans to run the Public Attitudes in Animal Research Survey. Policy teams are working with a variety of external and internal stakeholders to determine the future of the survey.
Project Gigabit is the Government’s flagship £5 billion programme to enable hard-to-reach communities, left out of commercial delivery plans, to access lightning-fast gigabit-capable broadband.
We expect most premises which require a Government subsidy through Project Gigabit to be in rural areas. However, to achieve our mission of nationwide coverage, which we expect to be at least 99% of premises having access to a gigabit capable connection, we are aware that there are pockets of more urban areas that are left out of commercial plans. Work is ongoing to identify an appropriate course of action for these premises. The solution here may involve working with suppliers to help remove barriers to commercial delivery rather than using public subsidy.
We have already amended building regulations so that new homes are future-proofed with gigabit connectivity; and where this is not available within a per-home cost cap, with gigabit-ready infrastructure to facilitate a gigabit-capable connection when this becomes available.
Alongside government intervention, the telecoms industry is leading on upgrading the UK’s landline network from the analogue Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), delivered over copper wires, to more reliable and future proofed services delivered over digital landlines, also referred to as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). These services will predominantly rely on fibreoptic cables for their infrastructure. Government is monitoring this switch-off closely, to ensure that vulnerable consumers are protected.
The Government is actively supporting and funding the development and dissemination of techniques that replace, reduce and refine the use of animals in research (the 3Rs). UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) is strongly committed to the 3Rs and provides funding for the National Centre for 3Rs (NC3Rs), which works to drive the uptake of 3Rs technologies and ensure that advances are reflected in policy, practice and regulations on animal research. Since it was established, the NC3Rs has invested £77 million in research and almost £27 million in contracts through its CRACK IT Challenges innovation scheme to UK and EU-based institutions.
Thanks to our efforts to make it as easy and attractive as possible to deploy gigabit-capable networks, 86% premises in Leeds North West can access gigabit-capable broadband, which is up from just 15% in March 2019. This is expected to increase further as suppliers continue to extend their networks. Additionally, 98% of premises in Leeds North West have access to superfast broadband speeds (>=30 Mbps). These coverage increases have been achieved entirely through commercial investment at zero cost to the taxpayer.
As the independent regulator for telecoms, it is the responsibility of Ofcom to make decisions relating to pricing regulation. In 2017, Ofcom conducted a review of the market which found that customers who only have a landline were getting poor value for money compared to customers who had bundles of landline, broadband and pay-TV services.
As a result of this review, Ofcom proposed new regulation which requires BT to reduce the price of line rental for these landline-only customers, from £18.99 to £11.99. At the time this represented a saving of £84 a year, or 37%, for up to one million of BT’s customers who didn’t also have a BT broadband service. BT also committed to capping any overall increases to line rental and call charges to inflation for three years.
BT’s original commitments ran to the end of March 2021. However, it committed to continue these protections for a further five years, which Ofcom accepted.
Given Ofcom’s statutory independence, it would not be appropriate for the Government to further comment on its regulatory decisions, which are taken independent of the Government.
Under Supply Licence Condition 32, suppliers are required to submit quarterly and annual data to Ofgem on a variety of areas of their operation. This includes debt levels, disconnection rates, prepayment meters, smart meters, payment methods used by customers and help for vulnerable customers.
The information is used to review suppliers’ performance in relation to specific social obligations, including areas of operation where vulnerable customers may be affected. Ofgem monitors these statistics to identify areas where improvement is needed. Ministers regularly meet with Ofgem to discuss a range of topics, including issues that have an impact on vulnerable consumers.
The Government works closely with energy regulator Ofgem and energy suppliers to ensure vulnerable customers are protected.
Ofgem is responsible for ensuring energy suppliers comply with their regulatory obligations.
Details of Ofgem’s ongoing supplier compliance and enforcement activity, including individual decisions, are at this link https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/energy-policy-and-regulation/compliance-and-enforcement/retail-compliance-and-enforcement.
The Government is serious about delivering cheaper, cleaner, more secure energy, and will consider all options for increasing electricity generation from renewable sources, including at the small-scale. The Government already supports small-scale onshore wind through the Smart Export Guarantee, which ensures small-scale (5MW) low-carbon electricity generators, such as homes with wind turbines, get payment for the renewable electricity they export to the grid.
The Government recognises the impact rising prices are having on businesses.
Businesses in Leeds North West will have benefitted from the Government’s reversal of the National Insurance rise, saving SMEs approximately £4,200 on average, the cut to fuel duty for 12 months and raising the Employment Allowance to £5,000. In addition, we have brought in the Energy Bill Relief Scheme to protect SMEs from high energy costs over the winter.
The Government is also providing financial support through the Start Up loan scheme - 138 SMEs in Leeds North West have received loans to the value of £1,447,433 as of October 2022.