Written questions by Snell.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy in the level of availability of private sector green finance for business energy efficiency projects.

The Government recognises the importance of green finance as it is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of a low carbon economy.The British Business Bank’s Green Growth Guarantee helps increase the supply of affordable finance for businesses investing in green technologies, by giving lenders confidence to support finance for green assets or lower the up-front cost of that finance.Small businesses across the UK benefitted from Government funding and support to help them invest in sustainability, to cut their operating costs and boost their business. A recent £2m Made Smarter Adoption Programme initiative helped SMEs lower their bills and become more energy efficient through investment in technology in areas like heating, insulation and solar power. The Government will continue to review support for business energy efficiency projects.

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 steps his Department is taking to help micro-businesses invest in onsite renewable energy generation.

The Government recognises the importance of green finance as it is one of the fastest growing sub-sectors of a low carbon economy.The British Business Bank’s Green Growth Guarantee helps increase the supply of affordable finance for businesses investing in green technologies, by giving lenders confidence to support finance for green assets or lower the up-front cost of that finance.Small businesses across the UK benefitted from Government funding and support to help them invest in sustainability, to cut their operating costs and boost their business. A recent £2m Made Smarter Adoption Programme initiative helped SMEs lower their bills and become more energy efficient through investment in technology in areas like heating, insulation and solar power. The Government will continue to review support for business energy efficiency projects.

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 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 recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on extending energy cost support for hospitality businesses.

The Government recognises the pressures that energy costs can place on hospitality businesses. We engage regularly with colleagues across Government, including HM Treasury, on measures to support businesses, including the hospitality sector and we keep the impact of energy prices on businesses 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, 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 businesses.The Government also plans to legislate on Third Party Intermediaries, including energy brokers, through the forthcoming Energy Independence Bill to strengthen protections for SMEs.

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 assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy costs on the retention of manufacturing jobs in the West Midlands.

The Government recognises that energy costs are an important factor in the competitiveness of manufacturing businesses and in the retention of skilled jobs, including in the West Midlands. From April 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs for eligible manufacturing businesses in Industrial Strategy growth sectors and their foundational supply chains. In addition, the British Industry Supercharger is already reducing electricity costs for eligible energy- intensive industries in the West Midlands, including in sectors such as brick production, glass production, plastic manufacturing and paper manufacturing. The Government continues to engage closely with businesses to monitor cost pressures, including those arising from the situation in the Middle East.

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 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 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.

What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the British Industry Supercharger scheme.

Since 1 April 2024, eligible Energy-Intensive Industries have benefited from the British Industry Supercharger, which tackles carbon leakage by bringing industrial electricity costs closer in line with those in neighbouring countries. Subsequent evidence commissioned by the Government identified that the electricity price gap between Great Britain and other countries still presented a carbon leakage risk. In the Modern Industrial Strategy, we announced an uplift of the Network Charging Compensation Scheme from 60% to 90% from 1 April 2026 to reduce the gap by an additional £8–10/MWh. The Government will review the Supercharger in 2029 to assess its ongoing effectiveness.

What meetings and discussions his Department has had with the ceramics industry regarding energy cost relief.

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 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 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.

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 steps his Department is taking to (a) engage with and (b) educate postmasters on the practical implications of the potential mutualisation of the Post Office.

My department has been actively engaging postmasters through the Green Paper consultation on the future of the Post Office, which closed earlier this month. This included two postmaster focus groups to ensure postmaster voices are clearly heard on the full range of issues covered by the Green Paper, including mutualisation and other governance options.The Green Paper itself included information on mutualisation as one potential future ownership model, and the department is continuing to analyse feedback on this and other options. However, it is worth noting that decisions on long-term governance will not be taken until the second volume of Sir Wyn Williams inquiry has been published. In the interim both the department and the Post Office will continue to actively engage Postmasters on this topic.

What proportion of (a) tableware and (b) crockery used in his Department is made by a British manufacturer.

A small amount of crockery and tableware has been purchased locally using departmental funds. No central record is maintained of these purchases. To determine the country of origin of all such items would require a check of all items in use. The cost of this would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold of £850.