Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Energy-intensive Industries

Thursday 23 March 2023 · 5 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government support for businesses to help with energy bills amounts to about 18 billion.
  • The Treasury decides which businesses fall within the Energy-Intensive Industries scheme.
  • The Minister proposes a meeting involving representatives from various sectors including Scottish whisky.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Duguid Con
Energy Business & Trade
Context

The MP is concerned about the support provided to businesses dealing with high energy costs.

Question

What steps she is taking with Cabinet colleagues to help support energy-intensive industries. The Government's support for the energy costs of businesses in my constituency has been most welcome. However, representatives from other key sectors have expressed surprise at their exclusion from such schemes despite facing significant challenges.

Answer from Nusrat Ghani

There has been support to the value of about £18 billion for businesses to help them with their energy bills, and we are determined to secure the future for our energy-intensive industries and to protect jobs. To support those most at risk of carbon leakage, the Government have announced the British industry supercharger, to support those most exposed to the cost of electricity.

Answered
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Q2 Scott Benton
Energy Business & Trade
Context

The MP notes the increased energy costs faced by tourism and leisure businesses, especially during a busy summer season.

Question

Many of the tourism and leisure businesses in Blackpool are energy-intensive. The world-famous illuminations and pleasure beach now pay hundreds of thousands of pounds more for their energy than previously. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the specific challenges around energy consumption facing the tourism industry, ahead of a busy summer season?

Answer from Nusrat Ghani

Once again, my hon. Friend is a stout campaigner for his constituency, and for the tourism and leisure businesses in Blackpool. He will know that the decision about which businesses fall within the EII scheme is for the Treasury; I am not sure whether the £63 million for leisure centres falls within that catchment or not, so of course, I will meet with my hon. Friend to make sure he has the absolute clarity that he needs.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details about how the decision affects the tourism industry are avoided; meeting offered but no concrete actions or figures given.

How: Under Review, Not Ready To Specify

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Q3 David Duguid Con
Energy Business & Trade
Context

The MP notes that representatives from the Scotch Whisky Association are surprised at their exclusion from the Energy and Trade Intensive Industries (EII) scheme.

Question

Representatives of the Scotch Whisky Association tell me that they are surprised not to be included in that scheme—especially as manufacturers of wine, cider and beer are—despite falling within the top 20% of sectors by energy intensity and the top 40% by trade intensity. Will the Minister meet me and representatives of that industry to discuss this apparent anomaly?

Answer from Nusrat Ghani

My hon. Friend raises the fishing industry. There are two Back-Bench colleagues present who are huge champions of that industry—I dare not say anything further—and I know that my hon. Friend is a huge promoter of Scottish products, including Scottish whisky. I counter-propose a meeting that involves Treasury officials and Ministers.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details about Scotch Whisky Association's exclusion from the scheme are avoided; meeting proposed but no concrete actions or figures given.

How: Under Review, Not Ready To Specify

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Q4 Stephen Kinnock Lab Aberafan Maesteg
Energy Business & Trade Environment
Context

The MP, chair of the all-party parliamentary group for steel and metal related industries, seeks clarification from the Secretary of State regarding her Sky interview where she implied uncertainty about a UK steel industry.

Question

I am honoured to be the chair of the all-party parliamentary group for steel and metal related industries. However, may I raise again the issue of her Sky interview in which she said, or certainly strongly implied, that it is not a given that we should have a steel industry in this country? Given the rise of authoritarian regimes around the world, the massive role that steel plays in providing good jobs for families and the vital role it plays in decarbonisation, may I invite the Secretary of State to come to the Dispatch Box and clarify her position—that steel is, in fact, a given in the United Kingdom?

Answer from Nusrat Ghani

Unfortunately, I have to come to the Dispatch Box—that is just the way it works—so I disappoint the hon. Member by not being the Secretary of State. However, he knows that steel is absolutely key to our sovereignty and security and for the resilience of all our sectors.

Not addressed: The question about her stance on a future UK steel industry was completely avoided; instead, the answerer redirected by explaining she cannot respond as Secretary of State.

How: Referral To Another Official

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Q5 David Linden SNP
Energy Business & Trade
Context

The MP highlights the challenge faced by small businesses, such as Jeanie's Coffee Shop in Baillieston, due to increased energy costs.

Question

Small businesses such as coffee shops and cafés in our high streets are the lifeblood of a local economy—one example would be Jeanie's Coffee Shop in Baillieston. Running a kitchen all day is an incredibly intensive process for energy, and John Devaney was telling me last week how that business's energy bills have gone up. As the Minister is being so generous with other meetings, would she be willing to meet me to look at how we can support businesses such as Jeanie's in Baillieston to ensure that they get through the cost of living crisis?

Answer from Nusrat Ghani

I will be full of meetings, but I defer to the Minister with responsibility for small businesses, who is more than happy to have that meeting. We have provided billions of pounds of support for businesses to deal with their energy costs, and we have the new supercharger in place.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific details on support for small businesses like Jeanie's Coffee Shop are avoided; meeting offered but no concrete actions or figures given.

How: Referral To Another Official

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