Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what his planned timetable is for the implementation of the policies set out in the Written Ministerial Statement entitled Employment Rights, HCWS411, published on 5 December 2022.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
On 5 December the Government set out its position on flexible working and published the response to the consultation “making flexible working the default”, including plans for legislation.
The Government is pleased to support the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Bill which gives effect to many of the measures, and is currently progressing through Parliament.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether his Department is taking steps to increase the number of installations of energy efficiency measures in homes in Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency.
Answered by Graham Stuart
Improving the energy efficiency of the UK’s housing stock is critical in supporting households and contributing to the Government's Net Zero target.
In particular, it is essential that the Government supports low income, vulnerable and fuel poor households with energy efficiency measures, making it easier to heat homes and contribute to the long-term reduction in energy bills. The latest fuel poverty statistics show that, in 2020, in Ellesmere Port and Neston 12.2% of households were in fuel poverty.
Measures are being delivered to fuel poor households through a range of schemes including the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, the Home Upgrade Grant, the Local Authority Delivery Scheme and the Energy Company Obligation (ECO). ECO has delivered 4,505 measures in Ellesmere Port and Neston as at end of September 2022.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough)
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 recent discussions with businesses in Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency on the potential impact of the cost of living crisis on those businesses.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Government recognises the impact rising prices are having on businesses, including those in Ellesmere Port and Neston, and is engaging with businesses across the UK to understand these challenges and explore ways to mitigate them.
The Government has reversed the National Insurance rise, saving SMEs £4,200 on average; cut fuel duty for 12 months; raised the Employment Allowance to £5,000 and introduced the Energy Bill Relief Scheme which is shielding businesses across the country from soaring energy prices, saving some around half of their wholesale energy costs.
We have also announced £13.6 billion of support for businesses over the next five years, reducing the burden of business rates for SMEs.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough)
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 estimate of the number of homes in Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency that have had external wall insulation installed as of 31 October 2022.
Answered by Graham Stuart
BEIS estimates that under the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Green Homes Grant (GHG) Government schemes, there have been around 100 external wall insulation measures installed in Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency. Data for ECO covers January 2013 to September 2022. Data for the GHG schemes cover October 2020 to September 2022.
Asked by: Justin Madders (Labour - Ellesmere Port and Bromborough)
Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, how many small and medium-sized enterprises in Ellesmere Port and Neston constituency have received Government funding for support during the cost of living crisis in 2022.
Answered by Kevin Hollinrake - Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities
The Government recognises the impact rising prices are having on businesses.
Businesses in Ellesmere Port and Neston 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; raising the Employment Allowance to £5,000 and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme to protect SMEs from high energy costs over the winter. In addition, at the Autumn Statement, my Rt Hon Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced £13.6 billion of support for businesses over the next five years, reducing the burden of business rates for SMEs.
The Government is also providing financial support through the Start Up loan scheme - 101 SMEs in Ellesmere Port and Neston have received loans to the value of £912,062 as of November 2022.