Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to publish a list of (a) sectors and (b) companies eligible for the 90% relief under the revised Network Charging Compensation Scheme.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The eligibility criteria of the Network Charging Compensation Scheme has not changed, only the level of relief offered to current eligible firms supported by the British Industry Supercharger. A list of these firms, as at 16 September 2025, is available on the GOV.UK website and will be updated should any more firms receive support. The eligibility criteria are based on the pre-existing Energy Intensive Industries (EII) Exemption scheme. A list of sectors eligible for support can also be found on the GOV.UK website, within the guidance to the EII Exemption Scheme.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
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 ensure that the uplift in compensation for energy intensive industries does not lead to increased costs for other electricity consumers.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government will bear down on costs across the energy system to ensure that the uplift of the relief offered by the Network Charging Compensation Scheme does not lead to a net increase in electricity bills for domestic and non-domestic energy consumers. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has published a consultation seeking views on the proposal to amend the inflation indexation of the Renewables Obligation (RO) from the RPI to the CPI. If implemented, this may contribute to that goal.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the uplift in Network Charging Compensation Scheme relief on small and medium-sized manufacturers not eligible for EII status.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government will bear down on costs across the energy system to ensure that the uplift does not lead to a net increase in electricity bills for domestic and non-domestic energy consumers, including small and medium scale non-energy intensive manufacturers. Additionally, in October 2025, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero published a consultation seeking views on the proposal to amend the inflation indexation of the Renewables Obligation (RO) from the RPI to the CPI. This may contribute to this goal.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether his Department has conducted a regional impact assessment of the Network Charging Compensation Scheme uplift on industrial competitiveness across the devolved nations.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
This Government understands the pressures facing our energy intensive industries (EIIs), across the nation, including high electricity prices. Our recent announcement of the uplift of relief offered by the Network Charging Compensation Scheme from 60% to 90% will benefit EIIs across England, Wales and Scotland. However, the Scheme will not apply to EIIs in Northern Ireland. The Government consulted widely on this policy, our proposal to proceed with this uplift was informed by feedback from energy industry stakeholders across the UK.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is planning to take to (a) monitor and (b) evaluate the effectiveness of the 90% compensation rate in supporting (i) decarbonisation and (ii) energy efficiency in energy intensive industries.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government consulted a wide range of stakeholders from across the energy industry on the proposal to uplift the level of relief offered by the Network Charging Compensation Scheme from 60% to 90%. Industry stakeholders were broadly in favour of this measure as a supportive means during their decarbonisation transition by encouraging electrification through reducing industrial electricity prices. The Government will continue to engage with stakeholders and recipients to assess the effectiveness of this support and to inform potential targeted, proportionate and effective support in future.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the uplifted Network Charging Compensation Scheme on the UK’s industrial electricity price competitiveness relative to other G7 economies.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Raising the level of compensation delivered by the Network Charging Compensation Scheme from 60% to 90% will reduce electricity prices for the average energy intensive industry (EII) business by a further £7-10/MWh. This increased discount will bring electricity prices in this country closer in line with those in other G7 countries, including France and Germany. This support will provide meaningful electricity cost relief for eligible businesses to help them remain competitive and support them to decarbonise.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Green Paper consultation on the Future of the Post Office, which ended on 6 October 2025. what progress he has made on holding joint discussions with the Post Office and banks on potentially expanding the range of banking services available at post offices.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
I refer the Honourable Member to the answer I gave to Question 83450 on 23 October 2025. As I stated in that response, together with the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, I plan to co-chair a roundtable with the Post Office and key banks which will provide an opportunity to discuss where future potential collaboration, on a commercial and voluntary basis, may be in the interests of both parties. This will take place in due course.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when he plans to publish the UK Steel Strategy.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is developing a Steel Strategy to be published in 2025 that will set out a long-term vision for a bright and sustainable steel sector in the UK and the actions needed to get there.
The strategy will articulate what is needed to create a competitive business environment in the UK with the aim of attracting new private investment to secure and expand UK steelmaking capability and capacity which is aligned with our Net Zero goals.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, on which dates the Steel Council has met since its formation in January 2025.
Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Since the relaunch of the Steel Council in January 2025, it has convened on three occasions. The meetings took place on 7 January, 8 April, and 14 July. The next meeting of the Steel Council is scheduled for 4 November 2025.
The Steel Council is assisting in the development the upcoming Steel Strategy and brings the expertise of industry, workers and innovative thinkers to the heart of the Department’s policy making.
Asked by: Harriett Baldwin (Conservative - West Worcestershire)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, when his Department plans to publish its response to the consultation on the Green Paper: Future of the Post Office, which closed on 6 October 2025.
Answered by Blair McDougall - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
We received over 2,500 responses to the Government’s Green Paper on the future of the Post Office, from a wide range of individuals, postmasters, businesses and organisations. We are currently analysing all the responses received and will include further details and an exact number in the Government’s response.
Government plans to publish a response to the Green Paper consultation in early 2026.