Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure that nurseries are supported with rising costs of energy; and what plans her Department have to support nurseries with business rates.

The government recognises the impact rising energy prices can have on businesses, the voluntary sector and public sector organisations of all sizes, including all Early Years settings. The energy regulator Ofgem and the Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department are in regular contact with business groups and suppliers to understand the challenges they face and to explore ways to protect consumers and businesses.

In September 2022, the government announced unprecedented support to protect households and businesses from high energy prices. The £18 billion Energy Bill Relief Scheme is supporting millions of businesses with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor has made clear it will continue to do so from now until April.

The government has announced a freeze to the business rates multiplier in 2022/23 and 2023/24. This will support all ratepayers, including Early Years businesses, and mean bills are 6% lower than without the freeze.