Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking with Cabinet colleagues to support small businesses facing rising energy prices.

The United Kingdom has a diverse and resilient energy system. The government is monitoring the impacts of the situation in the Middle East, including small businesses, and engaging with industry to understand the full picture.

Alongside existing measures to reduce electricity costs for energy-intensive industries, the government is supporting small businesses through cutting unnecessary regulatory burdens, tackling late payments, and modernising tax and customs systems to make them simpler and cheaper.

The Business Growth Service provides a first port of call for businesses with access to practical help to navigate current economic pressures, while building resilience and long‑term growth capability.