Written questions by Snell.

What support is available to the automotive supply chain to manage the energy-intensive processes of battery component manufacturing.

The Department for Business and Trade manages two electricity cost support schemes, the British Industry Supercharger and the Energy-Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme, to support eligible energy-intensive industries with the indirect costs of emissions levies and electricity policy and network costs.Manufacturing of batteries and accumulators is a sector eligible for electricity price support through these schemes. These schemes provide support to around 550 manufacturing businesses across the whole of Great Britain, including businesses in the automotive sector and its supply chain.

What assessment he has made of the impact of energy costs on the government’s regional growth objectives.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of energy costs on the domestic semiconductor manufacturing supply chain.

From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will cut energy bills by up to 25% for eligible, energy-intensive manufacturers in the priority industries in the Industrial Strategy -including semiconductors. This will give businesses certainty and stability, and back Britain’s fastest growing sectors with the support they need to prosper.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy costs on the UK’s attractiveness for Foreign Direct Investment.

We understand the scale and depth of challenge that high industrial electricity prices present to businesses. This is why we are addressing wholesale and network costs through long‑term investment in clean, homegrown power to reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices.While most businesses are currently protected against recent prices spikes through long‑term energy contracts, the Government will remain agile and responsive. We are also providing longer-term support with initiatives such as the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to drive investment in our sectors most likely to grow.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy costs on the survival of high-street independent retailers.

Through our Clean Power 2030 mission we are taking action to accelerate the transition to clean, homegrown electricity helping to improve energy security and reduce exposure to the volatility of fossil fuel prices across of the UK economy. Alongside this, the government is considering and intends to consult stakeholders on a range of options to address the relative cost of electricity for non‑domestic users and to support the wider take‑up of low‑carbon heat.We have introduced permanently lower business‑rates multipliers for retail, hospitality and leisure properties, worth nearly £900 million a year and benefiting over 750,000 premises and introduced a £4.3 billion transitional support package to protect ratepayers from large overnight increases. Later this year, we will bring forward a new High Streets Strategy, to help reinvigorate our communities. These measures will provide meaningful, long-term support to independent retailers at the heart of their communities.

What plans he has to consult with British Chambers of Commerce on the design of future energy cost mitigation policies.

The Government is committed to working closely with industry to support business competitiveness and mitigate energy costs and regularly meets with business representative organisations, such as the British Chambers of Commerce. The design of the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme has been informed by ongoing engagement with stakeholders, including the recent consultation on scheme eligibility and open consultation on regulatory changes and scheme delivery. The British Industry Supercharger and the Energy-Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme will both be reviewed this year. I encourage the British Chamber of Commerce and others to engage with the upcoming public consultation.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy prices on the operational costs of independent breweries.

The Government recognises the pressures that high energy costs can place on independent breweries. We engage regularly with colleagues across Government on measures to support businesses, and we keep the impact of energy prices under close review. The Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, and the interim CEO of Ofgem, Tim Jarvis, have written to business energy suppliers setting clear expectations that customers, particularly small businesses such as independent breweries, must be treated fairly. The letter makes clear that any unfair practices will not be tolerated, and that suppliers should take a fair and supportive approach, offering maximum flexibility and transparency for small business customers. The Government also plans to legislate on Third Party Intermediaries, including energy brokers, through the forthcoming Energy Independence Bill to strengthen protections for SMEs, including independent breweries, when they engage in the business energy market.

What recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the energy costs of heritage businesses and listed commercial buildings.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that the UK’s "Clean Energy Superpower" mission reduces costs for gas-intensive businesses by 2030.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What steps she is taking to ensure that port infrastructure has access to affordable energy for shore-side power projects.

The Government is taking action to reform the grid connections process to ensure port infrastructure, such as shore power, can access the energy they need for maritime. In addition, the Government is currently considering policy options to accelerate connection dates for strategic demand customers, such as critical port sites, to ensure access to grid connections are not a blocker to growth and decarbonisation.We also ran a Call for Evidence about ports’ energy needs to inform future maritime emissions policy, a summary of which will be published later this year.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy costs on the viability of the data centre industry.

The Government recognises that UK electricity prices and grid connection delays are barriers to investment. The only sustainable way to reduce electricity bills is by reducing the UK’s exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets, which is why industrial energy affordability is aligned with the Clean Power 2030 mission. For data centres, the Department for Business and Trade will consult on options to support electricity costs for projects in AI Growth Zones that reduce overall system costs, including in Scotland, Cumbria and the North East. For large projects, this could reduce operating costs and help to cut bills for consumers.

What estimate his Department has made of the number of businesses that have relocated production overseas due to energy costs in the last 24 months.

The Department for Business and Trade does not hold this information. We continue to support UK businesses and have many avenues through which businesses of all sizes can explore opportunities to grow internationally. We will continue to review how we can support businesses.

What support his Department provides to cold-storage logistics providers to manage peak-time energy tariffs.

Government recognises the importance of electrification of transport, including heavy goods vehicles, in delivering transport decarbonisation targets, and is aware of the impact that energy costs are having on different sectors, including logistics.Government is addressing wholesale and network costs through long‑term investment in clean, homegrown power to reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices.The Department for Business and Trade regularly engages across Government, including with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Transport, on matters relating to the cost of the electrification of transport. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade and his ministerial team will continue to have regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues on energy costs.

What discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on energy costs associated with the electrification of commercial heavy goods vehicle fleets.

Government recognises the importance of electrification of transport, including heavy goods vehicles, in delivering transport decarbonisation targets, and is aware of the impact that energy costs are having on different sectors, including logistics.Government is addressing wholesale and network costs through long‑term investment in clean, homegrown power to reduce exposure to volatile fossil fuel prices.The Department for Business and Trade regularly engages across Government, including with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and the Department for Transport, on matters relating to the cost of the electrification of transport. The Secretary of State for Business and Trade and his ministerial team will continue to have regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues on energy costs.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of high energy costs on the R&D budgets of manufacturing firms.

It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.

What steps he is taking to support the development of private wire networks for industrial parks to reduce transmission costs.

Network regulation and charging arrangements are a matter for Ofgem as the independent regulator. The Government’s role is to ensure Ofgem has the appropriate framework to make decisions in the interests of consumers. While private wire arrangements may reduce reliance on the public network for individual users, they are unlikely to reduce overall transmission system costs, which are largely driven by fixed investment needed to meet peak demand, security and resilience requirements. In practice, such costs remain and would be redistributed across and recovered from remaining users. Ofgem’s Targeted Charging Review reformed network charges to ensure that all users of the electricity network make a fair contribution to its fixed costs and to address inefficiencies in the previous framework.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken for grid connection on the ability of businesses to lower energy costs through onsite generation.

Following Ofgem’s decision to increase the threshold for generation requiring a transmission impact assessment from 1MW to 5MW in England and Wales[1], it is now quicker and cheaper for businesses customers to install onsite generation. Ofgem’s Connections End‑to‑End Review will also improve customer service and reduce connection times for such projects[2]. 1 https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-05/CMP446%20-%20Authority%20decision%20to%20approve%20WACM%201.pdf2 https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consultation/connections-end-end-review-updated-proposals-and-next-steps

What recent discussions he has had with the Energy Ombudsman regarding the volume of business energy complaints.

The Secretary of State meets regularly with a wide range of stakeholders, where they discuss a variety of issues. Small businesses have been able to access the Energy Ombudsman since December 2024. Ofgem’s Complaints Handling Standards require energy suppliers to have suitable complaints processes for small business consumers and to signpost the Energy Ombudsman when matters have not been resolved. To further ensure that consumers are protected when things go wrong, we are proposing to strengthen the position of the Energy Ombudsman. This will allow consumers to have access to fairer and faster redress and will ensure that decisions made by the Ombudsman are implemented on time and in full.

What steps he is taking to encourage more competition in the commercial energy supply market.

We are building on the outcomes of Ofgem’s 2024 report into the non-domestic market, and subsequent actions to improve practices: Non-domestic market review: decision | Ofgem The Government and Ofgem continuously monitor the non-domestic energy market to ensure that there is a competitive market that is able to drive good outcomes for all consumers. The Government also plans to directly regulate Third-Party Intermediaries (TPIs), by appointing Ofgem as the regulator when parliamentary time allows. A regulated TPI market will drive pro-consumer competition between energy brokers and deliver better outcomes for energy consumers.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Microbusiness Protection Rules implemented by Ofgem.

Consumer protection rules are a matter for Ofgem, as the independent regulator. The Department continues to work closely with them to take forward the recommendations from the 2024 Non-Domestic Market Review, such as expanding access to the Energy Ombudsman and the development of a new regulatory regime for Third Party Intermediaries, such as energy brokers. As part of its Consumer Confidence programme, Ofgem has developed consumer outcomes for all consumers, both domestic and non-domestic. These clarify the consumer outcomes Ofgem wants the sector to deliver and how they will be embedded into its regulatory framework.