Written questions by Snell.

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 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 steps he is taking to support the commercial laundry sector with levels of thermal energy required for its operations.

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

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy costs on business investment in the agricultural sector.

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 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 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 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.

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 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 assessment he has made of trends in the level of energy cost pressures for the life sciences and laboratory sectors.

The Government is aware of the pressure of high industrial energy costs in the life sciences and laboratory sectors. Officials from the Office for Life Sciences regularly engage with both companies and Trade Associations to understand the challenges facing the sector.As one of the sectors within the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy, many manufacturing life sciences businesses will benefit from the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme. The scheme will bring GB electricity costs more in line with other major economies in Europe, and level the playing field for British businesses.

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 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 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 estimate his Department has made of the potential energy savings for the hospitality sector through the adoption of heat recovery systems.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) does not hold an estimation of heat recovery potential specific to the hospitality sector, though in 2014 the Department of Energy and Climate Change published research on the potential for recovering and using surplus heat from industry.DESNZ also incentivises Combined Heat and Power (CHP) across many sectors, an efficient process that captures and utilises the heat that is a by-product of the electricity generation process, via the voluntary Combined Heat and Power Quality Assurance (CHPQA) Programme. Sites with CHP typically see savings of around 20% on their energy costs. In 2024, there were 206 CHP installations in buildings classified as hotels in the UK (Digest of UK Energy Statistics 2025), the closest approximation to hospitality in the data.

What steps he is taking to help decrease the capital costs for businesses moving from gas to electric heating systems.

The government recognises that capital costs are a significant barrier for businesses looking to electrify. The government remains committed to supporting electrification for the non-domestic sector and addressing barriers to investment. Eligible businesses can receive grants of £7500 towards the cost of purchasing and installing heat pumps through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and last week (21 April) we announced an increase to £9,000 in grant support for those properties heated by oil and LPG.We are also continuing to develop policies to bring down electricity costs relative to gas for the non-domestic sector as well as reducing initial capital costs for electrification. We intend to consult on options to reduce costs and make low carbon heat the economically rational choice for a wider range of businesses in due course. Stakeholders will have a voice in shaping future electrification policy.

What assessment he has made of effectiveness of the role of smart meters in helping businesses manage energy (a) demand and (b) costs.

Smart meters are being rolled out to small businesses across GB, with 67% of non-domestic meters upgraded by the end of 2025.Non-Domestic consumers with smart meters are expected to reduce their energy consumption by between 2.8% (electricity) and 4.5% (gas) per meter. Accurate bills from smart meters also ensure organisations pay for what they use, avoiding estimated bills (and any associated bill shock).Since October 2024, energy suppliers must provide small businesses with smart meters with free and regular information on their energy use based on their smart meter data, helping them manage their energy bills and reduce costs.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the take-up of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.

DESNZ has assessed the adequacy of take-up of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) through the Evaluation of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (alongside the IETF Benefit Report), published on 29th of January 2026. The evaluation found that the IETF was viewed by the majority of beneficiaries as an attractive offer by grant recipients and has supported the deployment of mature industrial decarbonisation technologies at scale. It found that most projects delivered by grant recipients would not have proceeded in the absence of IETF support, and that the fund filled a gap in capital expenditure support for these types of initiatives, allowing companies to take on more risk with feasibility studies and non-core technology projects.

What steps his Department is taking to improve the application process for energy efficiency grants.

The Department is improving the application process for energy efficiency grants by simplifying access and providing clearer guidance across schemes. Under the Government’s £15 billion Warm Homes Plan, we are streamlining delivery of the Warm Homes: Local Grant and the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund, including plans to integrate low‑income schemes into a single capital offer, reducing complexity for applicants. For owner‑occupiers, the Boiler Upgrade Scheme provides upfront capital grant funding to reduce the cost of installing low‑carbon heating systems, and is administered by Ofgem through an installer‑led application process designed to minimise administrative burden for households. The Department has launched the ‘Find ways to save energy in your home’ service, providing impartial, tailored advice and information on government energy efficiency schemes through an easy to use online platform.