Neil Coyle

The Government continues to support the glass sector, including with their energy costs.

We recently launched the consultation to increase the Network Charging Compensation component of the British Industry Supercharger from 60% to 90% from 2026, as trailed in the Industrial Strategy. This will save eligible glass manufacturers a further £7-10 per megawatt-hour on their electricity bills, bringing the total reduction to around £78 per megawatt-hour. We will also consult on eligibility for the separate British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme in due course.

The Government is clear that bogus self-employment is unacceptable. Employers should never seek to deny people their employment rights and avoid their own legal obligations by claiming someone is self-employed when in reality they are not. We recognise the complexity of the UK's current employment status framework and are committed to consulting on a simpler framework.

Our priority is ensuring those workers who are most vulnerable know their rights and have the benefit of protection at work, including those working in the digital economy.

The Fair Work Agency will bring existing labour market enforcement functions together into one place, so employment rights for all workers are enforced more effectively and efficiently.

In addition, the White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’ set out measures for targeting exploitation of migrant workers including reforms to the sponsorship system, putting more responsibility and accountability on effective and responsible sponsors. This will include exploring making it easier for workers to move between licensed sponsors, reducing the risk of exploitation.

The Certification Officer (CO) is independent of Government and day-to-day operations are the remit of the Officer. The CO is required by statute to report their activities to the Department for Business and Trade, and ACAS, on an annual basis. This report is made available to Parliament and is deposited by the relevant minister in the House libraries.

The next report is due Summer 2025.

While I regularly engage with the Post Office CEO about the direction of the company, Post Office has the freedom to operate the branch network within the parameters set by Government. Therefore, the level of support to people working in franchised branches is an operational matter for Post Office.

Government subsidy funding goes to Post Office, not franchise operators of branches directly. Government has confirmed up to £83 million of network subsidy this financial year to support Post Office with the costs of delivering Government policy requirements, and provided £10.9 million of funding in FY 24/25 to help initiate the Transformation Plan, which aims to put postmasters’ interests at the heart of Post Office. Further multi-year funding for the Transformation Plan and network subsidy is being considered as part of the upcoming Spending Review.

While I regularly engage with the Post Office CEO about the direction of the company, Post Office has the freedom to operate the branch network within the parameters set by Government. Therefore, the level of support to people working in franchised branches is an operational matter for Post Office.

Government subsidy funding goes to Post Office, not franchise operators of branches directly. Government has confirmed up to £83 million of network subsidy this financial year to support Post Office with the costs of delivering Government policy requirements, and provided £10.9 million of funding in FY 24/25 to help initiate the Transformation Plan, which aims to put postmasters’ interests at the heart of Post Office. Further multi-year funding for the Transformation Plan and network subsidy is being considered as part of the upcoming Spending Review.

The Government provides a network subsidy so that Post Office can cover the costs of delivering Government policy requirements, which include geographical access criteria. In order to fulfil the access criteria, Post Office has to keep uncommercial branches open. The network subsidy is to help the company to afford to do this. The network subsidy does not fund costs relating to the implementation of Post Office's transformation plan, which includes transitioning to a fully franchised network. Government provided POL with £10.9m of funding in FY 24/25 to help initiate the transformation plan. Further multi-year funding for the transformation plan is currently being considered.

Government has confirmed up to £83 million network subsidy for Financial Year 25/26. Funding beyond this will be confirmed as part of the upcoming Spending Review.

The Government provides a network subsidy so that Post Office can cover the costs of delivering Government policy requirements, which include geographical access criteria. In order to fulfil the access criteria, Post Office has to keep uncommercial branches open. The network subsidy is to help the company to afford to do this. The network subsidy does not fund costs relating to the implementation of Post Office's transformation plan, which includes transitioning to a fully franchised network. Government provided POL with £10.9m of funding in FY 24/25 to help initiate the transformation plan. Further multi-year funding for the transformation plan is currently being considered.

Government has confirmed up to £83 million network subsidy for Financial Year 25/26. Funding beyond this will be confirmed as part of the upcoming Spending Review.

The Government provides a network subsidy so that Post Office can cover the costs of delivering Government policy requirements, which include geographical access criteria. In order to fulfil the access criteria, Post Office has to keep uncommercial branches open. The network subsidy is to help the company to afford to do this. The network subsidy does not fund costs relating to the implementation of Post Office's transformation plan, which includes transitioning to a fully franchised network. Government provided POL with £10.9m of funding in FY 24/25 to help initiate the transformation plan. Further multi-year funding for the transformation plan is currently being considered.

Government has confirmed up to £83 million network subsidy for Financial Year 25/26. Funding beyond this will be confirmed as part of the upcoming Spending Review.

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act will allow all public enforcers of consumer law, including Trading Standards, to apply for online interface orders to take down digital content that breaks the law. These powers are planned to commence in April.

Government recently introduced the Product Regulation and Metrology Bill, which will allow Government to update the product regulatory framework to better protect consumers from unsafe products, including those sold online. The Bill will allow Government to introduce regulations that provide powers for Relevant Authorities to take action against non-compliance with product safety requirements, including those introduced on online platforms.

While Community Interest Companies (CICs) must satisfy the Regulator that their primary purpose is to benefit a community, they can still generate profit, albeit with restrictions on profit distribution and as long as profits are primarily used to benefit the community.

CICs occupy a middle-ground between private enterprises and charities, providing unique advantages and opportunities. Compared to non-profit organisations, CICs have greater flexibility, no trustees, and can pay directors. CICs benefit from the risk-taking features of a company and access the debt market for loans. The Secretary of State does not intend to change the associated advantages of CICs.

The Government is alert to the risks associated with substitution in the platform economy, particularly the role it can play in facilitating illegal working by irregular migrants.

I met recently with the Minister for Border Security and Asylum and the Director of Labour Market Enforcement to discuss this.

We are looking closely at the extent to which Deliveroo, Uber Eats and Just Eat have implemented the commitments they made earlier this year to implement systems to conduct right to work checks on substitute riders, and I have recently written to them seeking further detail on how this is operating in practice.

The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) supports film and TV businesses to meet international buyers and partners at key events both in the UK and overseas. In addition, businesses can access DBT’s export services via Great.gov.uk, including the UK Export Academy, International Trade Advisers in England, Help to Grow and the Export Support Service.

The creative industries are one of the Industrial Strategy’s growth-driving sectors. The Industrial Strategy will be published alongside a Creative Industries Sector Plan in Spring 2025 which will set out a 10-year plan to drive growth in the creative sector. We are reviewing our Export Services as part of our work in the Industrial Strategy, our Trade White Paper and on better support for small businesses.

Government legislated to introduce statutory redress, advice and advocacy from April 2025 and Ofgem regulation of heat networks from January 2026.

Government has provided Ofgem with broad powers to protect consumers, including on price.

Heat network suppliers and operators have until January 2027 to register with Ofgem and supply data, including information about pricing. Ofgem will use this to further inform their approach to pricing rules and guidance.

The Government has also just concluded a consultation to establish a Heat Network Technical Assurance Scheme to mandate minimum technical standards. These standards aim to improve service quality and reduce unplanned outages and operating costs by improving the efficiency of heat networks.

The introduction of Ofgem’s regulatory powers in January 2026 aimed to introduce similar protections for heat network customers to domestic gas and electricity customers. However, there are some important differences between these sectors, for example: there are many more heat network operators and suppliers than in gas and electricity markets and they, typically, supply fewer consumers. This dictates a different approach to rules that have the potential for cost pass through to consumers, including Guaranteed Standards of Performance, which Ofgem has said it aims to consult on in due course.

Heat network suppliers and operators have until January 2027 to register with Ofgem and supply data, including information about pricing. Ofgem will use this to further inform their approach to pricing rules and guidance.

The Department is working with Ofgem to assess data and evidence as heat network regulations develop and we will publish a Call for Evidence on heat network pricing in due course.

The Department has provided the heat network regulator, Ofgem, with broad powers relating to heat network price regulation. These include powers to investigate and intervene where heat network prices charged to consumers are disproportionate or unfair.

Ofgem has published authorisation conditions and issued guidance on the application of their fair pricing rules.

Heat network suppliers and operators have until January 2027 to register with Ofgem and supply data, including information about pricing. Ofgem will use this to further inform their approach to pricing rules and guidance.

In 2025-2026 alone, we will be upgrading up to 300,000 homes, using around £1 billion of Warm Homes Plan money, and further support through the Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and the Great British Insulation Scheme (GBIS). This is more than double the number of home upgrades delivered in 2023/24.

We are working across government on a comprehensive Warm Homes Plan to cut energy bills for good. We will publish more details soon.

The Warm Homes Plan will help people find ways to save money on energy bills and transform our ageing building stock into comfortable, low-carbon homes that are fit for the future. We are investing £13.2 billion in the Warm Homes Plan over the Spending Review period (up to 2029/30).

The government does not recommend specific measures for a household. Under the Warm Homes: Local Grant it is possible to install any RdSAP eligible measures that are non-fossil fuel and covered under the required standards. This includes energy performance and low carbon heating measures such as windows.

Further details on the Warm Homes Plan will be set out by October.

Schemes like the Boiler Upgrade Scheme offer a one-off, upfront grant payment to help property owners transition to low carbon heating. The scheme’s independent evaluation follows up with a sample of participants and the interim report published in January, found that 79% of property owners were satisfied with their low carbon heating system overall.

Building regulations on the energy efficiency of buildings restrict the replacement of a heating system with a less efficient or higher emission system. There are currently no data available on heat pump systems which have been removed, including those which have reached the end of their lifecycle.

The Government is introducing regulation in January 2026 which aims to provide district heating consumers with comparable protections to existing gas and electricity regulations.

The heat network regulator, Ofgem, will have powers to investigate and intervene where heat network prices charged to consumers appear to be disproportionate or unfair.

Ofgem’s regulatory oversight will be supplemented by statutory redress through the Energy Ombudsman who, from April 2025, will have the same powers to hear complaints and make legally binding decisions as they do in gas and electricity markets. Consumers will also be able to seek advice and advocacy assistance through Citizens Advice.