Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what discussions he has had with his counterparts in the devolved Administrations on the potential merits of offering incentives to small and medium-sized businesses to encourage them to adopt net zero approaches.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) business support is a devolved matter with devolved Governments able to determine how to best support SMEs to adopt net zero approaches.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero have engaged with their counterparts in the devolved Governments on the role of SMEs in the transition to net zero, including the potential merits of offering targeted incentives. We have discussed the approaches taken in Scotland and Wales, where loan programmes are in place to support SMEs in adopting low-carbon technologies and practices. We have also engaged with the Northern Ireland Executive, which offers a funded audit scheme to help SMEs identify decarbonisation opportunities. These schemes have provided valuable insights, and we are continuing to explore how similar models might inform future policy development in England.