Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Wendy Morton and Miatta Fahnbulleh

Tuesday 15th July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Sir John Whittingdale (Maldon) (Con)]

25. What steps his Department is taking to help reduce industrial electricity prices.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero (Miatta Fahnbulleh)]

We understand that high energy bills are a challenge for businesses, and particularly energy-intensive companies. We are clear that, in the long term, our mission to deliver clean power is the only way to bear down on that cost. But while we get there, we are providing the support needed through the British industrial competitiveness scheme and the supercharger scheme, protecting over 7,000 businesses.

[Wendy Morton]

The UK’s industrial electricity prices are among the highest in Europe, and it is quite clear that the Government’s current policies are failing manufacturing businesses in constituencies such as mine. Will the Minister commit to introducing support that genuinely reduces electricity costs for manufacturers, including by tackling high wholesale energy prices, rather than prolonging the uncertainty, which sadly puts local jobs at risk?

[Miatta Fahnbulleh]

I gently remind the right hon. Member that industrial energy prices rocketed on the Conservatives’ watch. Gas prices for non-domestic companies went up by 170%, which was catastrophic for UK plc. We are taking action to support businesses through our sprint to clean power and, critically, the measures we are providing through the British industrial competitiveness scheme. Those measures have been supported by Make UK, the British Chambers of Commerce, UK Steel and the Chemical Industries Association. The Conservatives dithered, delayed and did nothing to support businesses; we are cracking on and getting on with the job.