Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment she has made of the impact of energy standing charges on small businesses in Hamilton town centre.

The Government knows that many people and small businesses are concerned with the proportion of their bill that is made up of standing charges.

The Government has been working closely with Ofgem on the Cost Allocation and Recovery Review to consider reform of standing charges and how electricity-system costs should be recovered in future.

In the meantime, there is more variation in the availability of tariffs in the business energy than there is in the domestic energy market, providing greater opportunities for businesses to choose tariffs with lower standing charges if they wish to do so.

Beyond the work on standing charges, the Government is taking action to support small businesses. At the Autumn Budget 2026, the Chancellor unveiled a Budget that gives families and businesses breathing space from rising costs, while delivering the big structural changes needed for the future.