Written questions by Snell.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the Energy Bills Discount Scheme for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Just as we are looking across Government at the situation that households face, the Government is absolutely focused on the impact of the crisis on business and industry, and we will not hesitate to act. We will continue to monitor the situation and consider what contingency plans need to be put in place. We are reviewing the support provided to business through the Energy Bill Discount scheme that ran until 31 March 2024, including the higher level of support provided to Energy Intensive Industries compared to the universal offer for all businesses.

What support is available to the ceramics manufacturing sector to mitigate the cost of industrial gas.

I recognise the pressure that energy costs place on ceramics manufacturers. A small number of ceramic firms are currently eligible for the British Industry Supercharger, which provides electricity cost relief and these companies are benefiting from the recent uplift to the Network Charging Compensation Scheme. I encourage the ceramics sector to engage with the upcoming review of the Supercharger. There is no equivalent scheme for industrial gas price relief, but my department always keeps industrial energy support under review. My officials, other ministers, and I engage regularly with the ceramics sector, including with Ceramics UK and individual businesses to discuss how the Government can support the sector.

What estimate his Department has made of the average saving per business under current energy support packages.

Currently the Department for Business and Trade runs two energy support schemes. The British Industry Supercharger saves eligible businesses on average approximately £65 – £87/MWh on their electricity costs. The Energy Intensive Industries Compensation Scheme saves eligible businesses approximately £17/MWh on their electricity costs. The British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will save businesses up to £40/MWh when it comes into effect in April 2027, with an additional payment made in 2027 to cover the 2026/7 period.

What assessment he has made of the cumulative impact of network charges on industrial energy users.

Network charges are set by the independent energy regulator, Ofgem. As part of setting price controls under its RIIO‑3 Final Determinations, Ofgem carried out an impact assessment considering the overall effect of its decisions on consumers, including industrial users. Details of Ofgem's impact assessment can be found through the following link: RIIO-3 Final Determinations – Impact Assessment

What steps his Department is taking to support the glass manufacturing industry with gas energy prices.

I recognise the pressure that gas prices place on glass manufacturers. While there is no dedicated scheme for industrial gas price relief, my Department keeps support for energy-intensive industries under review. Many glass manufacturers are eligible for our electricity price support schemes like the British Industry Supercharger. My officials regularly engage with British Glass and individual businesses to discuss how the Government can support the sector and ensure any concerns are heard.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on the energy-related costs of UK exporters.

Charges under the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) for relevant goods entering the EU Single Market have applied since January 2026. UK businesses may face costs supporting EU importers to comply with the EU CBAM. The obligation to purchase EU CBAM certificates lies with EU importers. Costs on UK exporters are therefore uncertain and dependent on commercial and policy factors.We are engaging with the EU on Emission Trading Scheme linking to facilitate a mutual UK-EU CBAM exemption.

What support is available to the chemical manufacturing sector to mitigate the cost of industrial gas.

The Government does not currently provide support for the cost of industrial gas, including to the chemicals sector. However, we are continuing to work with industry in order to identify and explore ways in which the business environment can be improved for our foundational industries.

What assessment he has made of the impact of standing charges on the total energy costs of small businesses.

The Government recognises that standing charges can be a significant concern for some businesses. Ofgem is conducting a holistic review of how energy system costs, including network costs, should be paid for in the future, as part of its Cost Allocation and Recovery Review (CARR). The most recent update as to progress with this review can be found here: Energy system cost allocation and recovery review - Ofgem - Citizen Space. Alongside this, Ofgem’s work on the non-domestic market has highlighted the need to improve pricing transparency, and the Government has acted to strengthen protections for business consumers—such as measures to improve how businesses are supported in the market, including through action on third‑party intermediaries—so businesses can better understand what they are being charged and access better value contracts.

What steps he is taking to ensure that energy suppliers pass on price reductions to business customers in a timely manner.

The government recognises that high electricity prices are a significant pressure on businesses and a barrier to investment and growth. The only way to bring electricity bills down sustainably is by reducing the UK’s exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets, which is why business energy affordability is closely linked to the government’s Clean Power mission. My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State wrote to business energy suppliers last month, setting the very clear expectation that small business energy customers must be treated fairly, including by third party intermediaries, who many small businesses rely on to negotiate their energy contracts. This set out the expectation that pricing needs to be fair, transparent and fully justifiable, reflecting genuine market conditions. To ensure we do not see unfair practices continuing, in the upcoming Energy Independence Bill we will be bringing in new regulation of third-party intermediaries, such as energy brokers and price comparison websites, as a further measure to protect small businesses from harmful practices like mis-selling and untransparent pricing.

What assessment he has made of the impact of energy costs on the competitiveness of the UK retail sector.

The government keeps the impact of energy costs on the competitiveness of the UK retail sector under review.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 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, including through future consultation where appropriate.

What plans he has to introduce a successor scheme to the Energy Bills Discount Scheme.

Just as we are looking across Government at the situation that households face, the Government is absolutely focused on the impact of the crisis on business and industry, and we will not hesitate to act. We will continue to monitor the situation and consider what contingency plans need to be put in place. We are reviewing the support provided to business through the Energy Bill Discount scheme that ran until 31 March 2024, including the higher level of support provided to Energy Intensive Industries compared to the universal offer for all businesses.

What steps his Department is taking to monitor the impact of energy price volatility on business insolvency rates.

Business insolvency rates over the last year are shown below.PeriodTotal Company InsolvenciesMar 20251,995Apr 20252,058May 20252,216Jun 20252,033Jul 20252,058Aug 20252,015Sep 20251,964Oct 20252,006Nov 20251,848Dec 20251,686Jan 20261,759Feb 20261,895Mar 20262,022Source: Insolvency Service – Company Insolvency Statistics March 2026In March 2026, total company insolvencies were up 7% on the previous month and up 1% on a year earlier.The proportion of UK SMEs reporting higher costs as a potential barrier is shown below.Period% of SMEs reporting higher costs as a potential barrierQ1 202537%Q2 202535%Q3 202535%Q4 202537%Q1 202640%Source: IPSOS - SME Finance Monitor Monthly Charts, Q1 2026Ofgem, as the independent regulator of gas and electricity markets, actively monitors the non-domestic energy market, including to track outcomes for consumers. During periods of price volatility, Ofgem’s priority remains protecting consumers and ensuring the energy system continues to work for consumer across Britain. To support non-domestic customers, Ofgem has recently published guidance for businesses on how to manage business costs in an uncertain market: Managing business energy costs in an uncertain market | Ofgem.In addition, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and Ofgem’s interim CEO recently wrote to non-domestic suppliers and energy third party intermediaries to set out their expectations as to how non-domestic customers should be supported during this period of price volatility.

What assessment he has made of the regional distribution of energy cost support for businesses in the West Midlands of England.

The Department for Business and Trade manages two energy 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. These schemes provide support to around 550 businesses across the whole of Great Britain, including businesses in the West Midlands of England in sectors such as brick production, aluminium casting, glass production, plastic manufacturing and paper manufacturing.

What estimate his Department has made of the value of exemptions from green levies provided to energy-intensive industries in 2025-26.

The Department has not published an estimate of the value of “exemptions from green levies” provided to energy‑intensive industries in 2025–26. However, the published impact assessment for the British Industry Supercharger—which includes reliefs from certain renewable policy costs, such as the Renewables Obligation, Contracts for Difference and Feed-in Tariffs—indicates that, when taken together with the other Supercharger measures, eligible energy-intensive industries could receive overall electricity bill reductions of around £65 to £87 per MWh.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Financial Risk Assessments on tax revenues from the regulated betting and gaming sector.

The Government remains committed to supporting the implementation of key measures in the 2023 white paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs). Following the conclusion of its pilot on FRAs, the Gambling Commission has continued to engage with gambling operators. As the independent regulator, the Gambling Commission will decide how to implement FRAs based on the best available evidence. The existence of the online gambling illegal market does not mean that we should avoid appropriate controls on licensed operators. However, as stated in the white paper, we recognise that the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist. This is why we are working to give the Gambling Commission increased powers to support disruption and enforcement activity, and why we have announced £26 million of funding over 3 years to the Commission to enable them to increase their activity. We have also set up an Illegal Gambling Taskforce to test what more can be done to tackle the threats posed by the illegal market. Any assessment of the impact of policies on taxation revenues is a matter for HM Treasury.

Media and Sport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of Financial Risk Assessments on consumer migration to the unregulated gambling market.

The Government remains committed to supporting the implementation of key measures in the 2023 white paper, including the introduction of Financial Risk Assessments (FRAs). Following the conclusion of its pilot on FRAs, the Gambling Commission has continued to engage with gambling operators. As the independent regulator, the Gambling Commission will decide how to implement FRAs based on the best available evidence. The existence of the online gambling illegal market does not mean that we should avoid appropriate controls on licensed operators. However, as stated in the white paper, we recognise that the threat of movement to the illegal market does exist. This is why we are working to give the Gambling Commission increased powers to support disruption and enforcement activity, and why we have announced £26 million of funding over 3 years to the Commission to enable them to increase their activity. We have also set up an Illegal Gambling Taskforce to test what more can be done to tackle the threats posed by the illegal market. Any assessment of the impact of policies on taxation revenues is a matter for HM Treasury.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact of the price of wholesale gas on the viability of energy intensive industries.

This Government is aware of the impact of gas costs on energy-intensive industries and that current energy support schemes only subsidise the cost of electricity for eligible electricity-intensive businesses. My officials regularly engage with trade associations and industry groups, including the Energy Intensive Users Group, to ensure that their concerns are heard and inform potential policy support for gas costs in future.

What assessment she has made of the impact of industrial energy prices on economic growth.

We know high energy costs are one of the greatest challenges facing industry and is a key barrier to growth in the UK. In the Modern Industrial Strategy, we announced the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme, which will reduce electricity costs by c.£35-40/MWh up to 2030 and support thousands of businesses. This forms part of a wider package of support to industry.

What discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the potential impact of increased industrial energy prices on his Department's ability to deliver the Defence Industrial Strategy.

The Ministry of Defence recognises the potential impact of rising industrial energy prices on the Department and the wider economy. The Government remains committed to supporting the defence sector to ensure the successful delivery of its strategic objectives despite these economic challenges and continues to make progress in delivering the Defence Industrial Strategy.

Innovation and Technology, whether her Department’s consultation entitled Reforming planning rules to accelerate deployment of digital infrastructure will consider increasing permitted width upgrades to existing ground-based mobile masts alongside proposed increases to permitted height upgrades.

The call for evidence, Reforming planning rules to accelerate the deployment of digital infrastructure, closed on 26 February 2026 and was jointly led by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. It sought views on a range of proposals to reform planning rules in England to support investment in, and the rollout of, digital infrastructure. These proposals focused on expanding permitted development rights for digital infrastructure such as ground-based masts, rooftop equipment and fibre exchanges, as well as extending the period for temporary deployment without planning permission. This included proposals to increase the height of ground-based masts, including monopoles, currently permitted under prior approval. As part of the review of responses, we will assess the evidence received, including where it may relate to limits on infrastructure size permitted under existing planning regulations, to inform ongoing policy development in this area. Subject to the evidence, we will determine next steps, which may include consulting on draft measures and, where appropriate, bringing forward legislation.