Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Asked about steps taken by the Department to support businesses with energy costs, highlighting £14.6 million investment in Cummins for hydrogen combustion engine development and requested further regulatory support.

Criticised the Government's withdrawal of business energy cost support and highlighted 440 redundancies at Liberty Steel, citing soaring energy costs as a major factor behind the decision.

Suggested the creation of small modular nuclear reactors as part of the Great British Nuclear programme and challenged Labour to apologise for their opposition to new nuclear power over 13 years.

Discussed the impact of high energy costs on Liberty Steel, which announced the idling of its Newport site due to competitiveness issues and called for more practical support from the Government.

Critiqued the recent stage of the energy support scheme presented by the Government, questioning its effectiveness in mitigating business closures despite a £2 billion cost to taxpayers.

Asked about steps being taken to decouple the cost of gas supplies from renewables as a way to reduce renewable energy costs and help households.

Inquired about support for Eastleigh's diverse housing mix, including pensioners, park home residents, and lower-income families struggling with energy bills.

Asked the Secretary of State to confirm that support provided by the Government to households will continue until international energy markets stabilize fully.

Asked about support for households on communal heating schemes and those on housing benefit who do not receive additional help despite being low-income.

Responded to Clive Betts, noting the complexity of providing financial aid through direct debits and off-grid measures. Offered to speak further with him specifically about these issues.

Expressed concern over energy companies raising direct debits above actual usage and building credit balances that customers cannot afford, asking for a meeting to discuss accountability and repayment of overcharges.

Agreed with Drew Hendry's concerns about arbitrary increases in direct debit amounts by energy companies. Offered a meeting with the Energy and Climate Minister on this issue.

Inquired about discussions regarding energy companies forcefully installing prepayment metres following a report from Citizens Advice, highlighting it as a scandalous industrial-scale practice.

Confirmed that steps are being taken to address the issue of enforced installation of prepayment metres by officials and through communication with Ofgem (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets).

Asked for better public information campaigns and support for park home or houseboat residents who struggle to access the alternative fuel payment scheme.

Announced a pilot scheme launched yesterday through local authorities aimed at expediting financial assistance for those in park homes.

Raised concerns over high rates of self-disconnections due to inability to afford prepayment metre top-ups and called for a moratorium on forced installations until reviewed.

Acknowledged the concern about people being cut off from energy supply during cold weather. Stated that measures are in place to avoid this, with further detail to be provided.

Asked about steps taken to support small businesses, specifically regarding the visibility of energy bill relief scheme benefits.

Provided details on measures supporting SMEs including reversing national insurance rises, providing business rates support, reducing fuel duty, raising employment allowances, and protecting against high energy costs through relief schemes.

Inquired about long payment terms that cause significant cash-flow issues for small businesses, suggesting a review of UK’s payment terms regulations.

Agreed to examine business behaviours regarding late payments through the prompt payment and cash flow review. This includes looking at payment reporting obligations and the role of the Small Business Commissioner.

Asked about measures against energy suppliers not passing on Government support to small businesses in London, particularly hospitality venues.

Reported that Ofgem is investigating the issue of energy supplier compliance with providing support to SMEs as promised by the Government.

Inquired about the future of UK car manufacturing, given Britishvolt's administrative proceedings and its significance in electric vehicle battery production.

Stated that public money must be responsibly managed with clear milestones for recipients. The Government is carefully reviewing the Britishvolt situation.

Expressed concern over the reduction of energy bill relief scheme support from April, noting it will be devastating for small businesses despite ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

Acknowledged the need to continue supporting businesses but stressed the importance of balancing public finances responsibly. Announced further support through an £5.5 billion scheme from April.

Asked the Minister to consider revising early payment discount schemes for both domestic and non-domestic council tax and rates payers.

Criticised the Government's lack of guidance, support, and consultation on changes to SME R&D tax credits. Noted that such changes may result in less research investment by companies like AMLo Biosciences.

Asked about the adequacy of onshore wind farms developed since 2015. Questioned whether the Government’s weak policy has affected energy security, leading to increased household bills.

Praised the progress in renewable electricity generation over the past decade and asked if offshore wind farms are more efficient and cheaper compared to onshore options.

Inquired about steps taken by the Department to support advanced manufacturing. Highlighted a local company's acquisition of Off Grid Energy Ltd for innovative power storage solutions.

Suggested an initiative called “Work Hull. Work Happy.” aimed at making Hull the co-working capital of the UK to attract remote workers.

Asked for updated estimates on households in fuel poverty and requested targeted support for those affected by the upcoming energy price guarantee increase.

Called for a social energy tariff to help low-income, vulnerable older, and disabled households with heating their homes. Cited survey data on over-60s living in colder homes.

Asked the Minister to commit to a clear road map for fast-tracking geothermal energy projects and using mine water energy to help regenerate coalfield communities.

Welcomed the development of renewable and low carbon sources but questioned why new oil and gas licences were being awarded, despite net zero objectives.

Stressed the need for dispatchable energy like pumped storage hydro and criticised the Government's inaction on this issue. Highlighted the importance of Coire Glas, Cruachan and Red John projects.

Ordered order to maintain that only one speaker can be addressed at a time.

Asked about the adequacy of the energy bills support scheme alternative funding and questioned why payments were delayed for some households.

Inquired if payments under the energy bills support scheme would be made directly to park home owners as a single block sum.

Asked about the floating offshore wind manufacturing investment scheme and investment in ports for harnessing floating offshore wind potential in the Celtic sea region.

Proposed considering tidal power as an innovative technology, given the UK's significant tidal range.

Expressed concerns about foreign investment in Royal Mail by Vesa Equity Investment with Russian ties, questioning its impact on national security.

Asked the Minister to meet her to secure a post office in Rochester after an expansion of a pharmacy led to its closure.

Offered to meet the MP to discuss securing a post office in Rochester. Emphasised commitment to maintaining 11,500 post offices with 99% coverage within three miles.

Criticised Royal Mail's management for causing losses despite recent profits. Asked for an inquiry into the board’s actions.

Discussed plans to promote British business and investment at Davos and addressed concerns about energy support for steelmakers.

Asked the Government to vote with Labour to ensure employment rights are saved from being scrapped under the Retained EU Law Bill.

Inquired about progress on promoting community energy, which was addressed by Graham Stuart.

Called for a ban on forced installation of prepayment metres and an end to unfair standing charges for vulnerable consumers.

Asked the Government about steps being taken to ensure access to finance is open to diverse entrepreneurs in Wimbledon.

Expressed concern over inconsistencies in reporting greenhouse gas emissions by the public sector and requested clarity on metrics.

Asked about steps being taken to reduce UK energy demand by 15% by 2030, as set by the Chancellor.

Acknowledged efforts in rolling out energy payments in Northern Ireland and sought reassurance on ongoing work with energy companies.

Inquired about action being taken regarding house fires caused by malfunctioning solar panels.

Challenged the Secretary of State to do a deal on green steel for the future of the workforce, noting the decline in the UK’s steel industry compared to others.

Asked about support for training new skills in green heating technologies.

Announced the latest phase of a £9.2 million home decarbonisation skills training competition to fund training for people working in energy efficiency, retrofit, and low-carbon heating sectors.

Inquired about the need to ensure security of supply of nuclear medicines as UK imports all medical radioisotopes used for treatment and diagnosis from European facilities due to close down by 2030.

Responded that the life sciences Minister is working extensively with industry to ensure equipment in supply chains, but was not aware of the situation and offered to meet or write regarding it.

Praised UK as a hub for privately driven research and development and asked about steps being taken to encourage more international R&D investment into the UK.

Responded with details of several measures including a £20 billion annual public R&D investment, National Science and Technology Council creation, international science partnership fund launch in Japan with £119 million first tranche.

Inquired about the Government's response to the issue of companies obtaining warrants to forcibly install prepayment metres, citing British Gas' 24,500 warrants in 2021 and Ofgem's incapability.

Stated that Ofgem has investigated the matter and found suppliers wanting; highlighted that companies not treating customers properly are in breach of their licensing conditions.

Complained about local businesses struggling to understand how tariffs relate to wholesale prices, citing non-transparent pricing practices by energy suppliers.

Differentiated between domestic and non-domestic markets in energy price regulation; highlighted that Ofgem fulfils obligations for licensed conditions despite less stringent regulation.

Asked about support for post offices’ energy bills to ensure their continued operation in communities.

Responded that post offices, like all non-domestic businesses, will benefit from the new energy price discount scheme following the Energy Bill Relief Scheme announced by the Chancellor.

Inquired about National Grid’s green proposals for pylons across East Anglia and requested assurances on offshore grid options to deliver resilience and capacity without impacting communities negatively.

Announced the launch of a £100 million offshore co-ordination support scheme for developers to look at infrastructure with least negative impact on constituents.

Suggested that employers publishing salary ranges when advertising jobs, as in Colorado, would be beneficial for British job applicants and employers.

Expressed interest in looking at pay reporting especially in larger companies while considering the burden on smaller firms.

Invited the Minister to meet her and discuss a report on the future of energy that she chaired as chair of the 1922 Backbench committee.

Accepted the invitation to meet with Andrea Leadsom regarding her report.

Asked how many west midlands homes would benefit from the new energy company obligation plus scheme when it comes online this year, inquiring if the figure is nearer 4,000 or 20,000 homes.

Offered to write back with figures on the number of west midlands homes benefiting from the new scheme.