SMEs: Red Tape Danny Kruger (Devizes) (Con) 1. What steps he is
taking to reduce red tape for small and medium-sized businesses.
(901802) The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy (Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg) His Majesty’s Government are
committed to supporting small and medium-sized enterprises through
exemption of new regulations where possible. This exemption was
recently extended to businesses with up to 500 employees,
potentially reducing...Request free
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SMEs: Red Tape
(Devizes) (Con)
1. What steps he is taking to reduce red tape for small and
medium-sized businesses. (901802)
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ( )
His Majesty’s Government are committed to supporting small and
medium-sized enterprises through exemption of new regulations
where possible. This exemption was recently extended to
businesses with up to 500 employees, potentially reducing red
tape and bureaucracy for up to 40,000 more businesses. That means
thousands of businesses will not have to comply with forthcoming
regulations and, most excitingly of all, it will extricate them
from hundreds of EU regulations during the process of review and
repeal.
I thank my right hon. Friend for the support he has given to
small businesses across the country in recent weeks. As a west
countryman, he will know Wadworth Brewery based in Devizes, an
important local employer with more than 150 pubs and probably
1,500 people employed in the brewery and the pubs. I am afraid to
say that many of the pubs are in severe financial difficulties,
with many saying that things are worse than covid. Does he agree
that the very welcome energy relief scheme should be extended and
that the Government should give consideration to reviewing
business rates and the value added tax regime?
Mr Rees-Mogg
Wadworth is a very well-known west country brewer. I used to live
not very far from a tied pub in Wadworth’s capable hands, and it
is a distinguished company that serves fine products. However, I
must tell my hon. Friend that, while VAT is a matter for the
Chancellor, the British Business Bank is offering £12.2 billion
of finance to more than 96,000 small and medium-sized businesses.
On 20 July my predecessor introduced a new iteration of the
recovery loans scheme, which helps smaller businesses to get
loans and other kinds of finance up to £2 million per business,
and the Government have reversed the national insurance rise,
saving small businesses £4,200 on average. The energy bill relief
scheme, which ought to get Royal Assent later today, will secure
businesses over the winter, and there will be a review; it is one
of the most generous schemes in the world and has been copied by
foreign Governments.
Dame (Hackney South and Shoreditch) (Lab/Co-op)
Businesses in my constituency, including some of the fabulous
small breweries, are struggling with the extra paperwork they now
have to fill in in order to export to the European Union. The
Business Secretary was a great exponent of Brexit, but even he
must acknowledge that it is causing a huge burden to businesses
and seriously affecting their profitability.
Mr Rees-Mogg
I look forward to the hon. Lady’s supporting the Retained EU Law
(Revocation and Reform) Bill, which is coming later today and
will get rid of lots and lots of dreadful EU regulations that are
such a terrible burden on businesses. Is it not wonderful, Mr
Speaker, that our socialist friends at last have this glorious
zeal for deregulation? It is something we on the Conservative
Benches have supported since the time of Noah.
Mr Speaker
We come now to the shadow Minister, .
(Feltham and Heston)
(Lab/Co-op)
In recent weeks, having crashed the economy, the Conservatives
have increased the barriers facing small firms, with spiralling
costs making it harder than ever to do business. Last week, the
Federation of Small Businesses reported business confidence
falling to its lowest levels since the pandemic. Yet, as almost
half of small businesses reported falling revenues this quarter,
the Secretary of State spent the weekend saying it was “Boris or
bust”. Surely recent Government chaos shows that, for small
businesses, it is Labour or bust. If the Secretary of State
really wants to reduce the cost of doing business, will he back
Labour’s call to raise the small business rate relief threshold
for this financial year, saving local firms up to £5,000?
Mr Rees-Mogg
The hon. Lady has been in this House long enough to know that
rates are a matter for the Chancellor of the Exchequer. She is
raising the question at the wrong Question Time. It is worth
bearing in mind, with unemployment at its lowest level since
1973, that every single socialist Government, including their
brief period in office in 1923, have led to higher unemployment.
What are they talking about?
Support for Energy Customers: April 2023
(North Ayrshire and Arran)
(SNP)
2. Whether his Department plans to take steps to support (a)
domestic and (b) non-domestic energy customers after March 2023.
(901803)
(Linlithgow and East Falkirk)
(SNP)
11. Whether his Department plans to take steps to support (a)
domestic and (b) non-domestic energy customers after March 2023.
(901813)
(West
Dunbartonshire) (SNP)
15. Whether his Department plans to take steps to support (a)
domestic and (b) non-domestic energy customers after March 2023.
(901820)
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ( )
I am proud of the support the Government have provided to energy
customers. His Majesty’s Government launched a Treasury-led
review into how we support energy bills beyond April next year.
The review will result in a new approach that ensures there is
enough support for those in need while costing the taxpayer less
than planned. The cost has come down significantly because of the
fall in gas prices in recent weeks. Any support for non-domestic
energy customers will be targeted at those most affected. This
new approach will better incentivise energy efficiency.
Citizens Advice Scotland has warned that it is already seeing
huge demand for advice on the cost of living, energy bills and
food insecurity. The uncertainty on the future of the energy
price guarantee beyond April is frightening for consumers, not to
mention the impact of insecurity faced by business. During the
pandemic, the current Prime Minister kept U-turning on furlough
extensions at the last minute. Will the Secretary of State offer
reassurance and give at least some idea of when a post-April
energy price scheme could be established?
Mr Rees-Mogg
Let me offer the reassurance that, if not for the United Kingdom,
there would not be this level of support for businesses and
individuals in Scotland. Scotland simply would not be able to
afford it. It is the strength of the United Kingdom that allows
this all-encompassing support to be provided. That is what the
Government are doing. The package is one of the most generous
that any country in the world has introduced. We are supporting
people through the winter, and we will ensure there is focused
support for the least well off in future winters.
Just four days ago, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce issued the
findings of its latest business survey and, to no surprise,
energy costs were the main concern. The Scottish Chambers of
Commerce stated:
“The signs of an economic bounce back don’t look promising as
more and more firms are telling us that they have been forced to
cancel contracts, projects or plans to expand, due to soaring
costs and difficulty in hiring people.”
How exactly does having no certainty on energy costs beyond March
help those businesses?
Mr Rees-Mogg
Mr Speaker, I assume it is orderly to say that I think the hon.
Gentleman lives in a fantasy land. Energy prices varied before
this Government came in and will vary in future. What His
Majesty’s Government have done is provide enormous support for
businesses. I say it again: just think how much worse off
businesses would be if they were dependent on an entirely
Scottish Administration with no money.
It is good to see the Ministers still in their place for a wee
while. Just six days ago, Martin Sartorius, the principal
economist at the CBI, said:
“The prospect of household energy bills rising sharply again in
April 2023 emphasises the need for Government to set out the
details of any future targeted support sooner rather than
later”.
The Secretary of State has repeatedly refused to clarify when
households will receive clarity. Can I assume that he is also
happy to leave businesses in the dark?
Mr Rees-Mogg
The hon. Gentleman cannot find a stick without picking up the
wrong end. It has to be said that this Government acted with the
speed of light.
“There was a young lady named Bright
Whose speed was far faster than light;
She set out one day
In a relative way
And returned on the previous night.”
We have returned on the previous night with a package that will
receive Royal Assent today. The package has been worked out and
thought through, with its budget provided, within a few weeks. We
have some time between now and 1 April to establish what the
scheme will be in future.
(Penrith and The Border)
(Con)
I very much welcome the Government’s energy support measures, but
my right hon. Friend will know that in rural areas, in Cumbria
and in his constituency, many households and businesses are
off-grid, relying on heating oil, liquified petroleum gas,
biomass and so on. The measures do need bolstering, so will he
reassure me and my constituents that the Government will keep
this under review, and will support households and businesses
that are off-grid?
Mr Rees-Mogg
I am entirely in agreement with my hon. Friend; this is an
important part of the overall scheme. The £100 payment to
domestic users who are off-grid is based on the rise in the
heating oil price against the price of gas, to ensure that people
are dealt with fairly. It is important that that is also done for
businesses. The issue with the business scheme, which we are
developing and will have developed shortly, is ensuring that it
is not open to gaming, because we have to use taxpayers’ money
wisely. However, there is support and there will be support, and
my right hon. Friend the Chancellor is fully behind that.
(Lewes) (Con)
I welcome the £400 energy bill discount that is going out to most
households across the country in the UK. Some park homes, such as
those in Deanland Wood Park in my constituency, are not on the
domestic supply, but equivalent support has been promised for
them. They mainly have elderly residents, so will the Secretary
of State outline the timescale and process as to how they will
receive that money?
Mr Rees-Mogg
It is important that we support everybody who needs the support,
and people in park homes are in a situation of which we are well
aware. It is a question of working out how to get the support
directly through to them, but I assure my hon. Friend that that
is being worked upon.
(North West Leicestershire)
(Con)
Will my right hon. Friend outline to the House what role his
Department will have, if any, in advising on and assisting with
the Treasury-led review on the energy price guarantee during
April?
Mr Rees-Mogg
I think the answer is in the name of the Department, which is the
Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy: any
policy relating to energy is one the Department has a role
in.
Mr Speaker
I call the SNP spokesperson, .
(Aberdeen South) (SNP)
As we have just heard, the CBI, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce
and Citizens Advice Scotland have all expressed profound concern
about the lack of certainty coming from the Government on their
energy price strategy. But let us not stop there, because Age
Scotland has produced a report in the past couple of days
outlining that four in 10 older people in Scotland are now living
in fuel poverty. Indeed, one of the respondents stated:
“The cost of living means I had to cut back on food shopping, and
often go weeks with no food. It’s making me unwell.”
How does the right hon. Gentleman expect people to survive this
winter?
Mr Rees-Mogg
The hon. Gentleman makes a very important point. Everyone in this
House is concerned about their constituents, the least well-off
constituents, which is why such a big package of support has been
put together—not just the price cap, which for the average
household would be £2,500, converted into units of electricity,
but the additional support given for the least well-off. So there
is a further £400 that everybody is getting and £800 that is
available to people on certain benefits. He is right to raise the
issue of their difficulties, and I always admire the work done by
Citizens Advice, which receives a portion of its funding from
BEIS and rightly so. As constituency MPs, we all know what a
useful organisation it is. The whole purpose of this package is
to support the least well-off and give them certainty over the
winter. He does not help by creating fear and uncertainty.
As ever, the Secretary of State is living on a different planet.
The energy price guarantee, to which he refers, is of course a
unit price cap, not a usage price cap. That means that average
bills in Scotland are not going to be £2,500; they are going to
be £3,300 and in rural areas they are going to top £4,000. That
is despite the fact that Scotland produces six times more gas
than we consume and that almost all of our electricity comes from
low-carbon sources. On Westminster’s watch, Scotland is
energy-rich but fuel-poor. Is it not the case that at this moment
the solution to Scotland’s problems does not rest with his party
and his incoming Government? Indeed, it does not rest with this
Parliament at all, does it?
Mr Rees-Mogg
There is a certain eccentricity in the Scottish nationalists’
boasting of the amount of oil and gas they get when they have
been opposing efforts to increase the licensing round. They
really cannot have it both ways. They have this fantasy approach
to politics where they spend money that they have not got, they
rely on the UK taxpayer to support them and then they complain
that it is all the fault of Westminster. I am afraid that without
Westminster the hon. Gentleman and his merry band would be
bankrupt.
Businesses: Energy Costs in 2023
(North Shropshire) (LD)
3. What support his Department plans to provide to businesses
with increased energy costs after April 2023. (901804)
The Minister for Industry ()
We will publish a review by the end of the year which will
consider how best to offer further support to those most at risk
due to energy price increases. The review will consider which
groups of non-domestic customers remain particularly at risk to
energy price rises; and how best to continue supporting those
customers, either by extending the existing scheme for some
users, or by replacing it with a different one.
The Horse & Jockey pub in Northwood in my constituency closed
before the Government’s assistance package was announced. It is
one of many businesses that will not continue beyond April. Many
others that have managed to remain open are struggling to secure
bank facilities and to reassure suppliers and customers, because
they need certainty to be able thrive. I would like to hear from
the Minister what the Government are going to do to provide some
certainty for these critical businesses beyond the winter
period.
The hon. Lady is absolutely right—businesses deserve certainty,
and we will give that to them as soon as we can, and well before
the end of the scheme. It is important that we make sure, because
this is a very expensive scheme for taxpayers, that we give that
support where it is needed, at best value for the taxpayer. That
means that we need to target it at those businesses that are at
most risk of being damaged. I hope that that gives the hon. Lady
some reassurance in the meantime—we are determined to give some
advice before the end of the year.
(Southampton, Test)
(Lab)
The Minister has announced what will happen if businesses have
fixed-term energy contracts running into the period of the
support scheme, but she has not said anything about what would
happen where businesses are forced to sign new fixed-term
contracts during the term of the scheme that run on after it has
ended. Many businesses and firms might face ruin if they sign
new, sky-high fixed-term contracts for which they know that there
is support only for perhaps a few months of it. They need
assurances now, not at the end of April. What assurances can the
Minister give that proper measures will be urgently put in place
to support businesses under such circumstances?
I repeat that we will announce conclusions before the end of the
year, which provides sufficient notice before the end of the
scheme. The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that we need to give
support that is as targeted as possible, given the cost of the
scheme. In respect of the point that he made regarding contracts,
Ofgem will play a key role in making sure that energy suppliers
behave honourably in the scheme. It remains our intention that
businesses should receive the support that they deserve and that
pricing is fair.
SMEs: Energy Price Cap
(Glasgow Central)
(SNP)
4. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on
the potential effect of raising the energy price cap on small and
medium-sized businesses. (901805)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
Businesses are not subject to the energy price cap in the same
way as domestic homes are subject, and are not eligible for the
energy price guarantee. The Government are providing equivalent
support to businesses through the energy bill relief scheme,
which was launched on 21 September 2022.
I have been inundated with calls from businesses, because those
prices are not capped and they have soaring, runaway fuel costs.
The latest was from Toryglen Community Base, whose bills are
going up from £9,745 a year to £62,273 next year—a 539% increase.
How does the Minister expect community organisations to pay those
increased bills? They have to sign those contracts, whether they
can afford them or not. The price is not going to go down. The
community base has been quoted £50,000 a year for 2024. How does
he expect community organisations to survive?
I thank the hon. Member for raising her concerns, and I
understand the points relating to her constituents and
businesses. The Government are absolutely committed to supporting
small and medium-sized businesses. I am very proud that, as the
first point in my portfolio, small businesses are absolutely at
the top of my agenda. Having worked with small businesses for
many years, it is absolutely essential that we support them. We
are looking at how we can best help to support businesses, and I
will gladly write to her with further details.
Onshore Wind Farms
(Manchester, Withington)
(Lab)
5. What assessment he has made of the adequacy of the number of
onshore wind farms established in England since 2015.
(901807)
The Minister for Climate ()
We currently have more than 3 GW of installed, operational
onshore wind capacity in England and 14 GW across the UK—the most
of any particular renewable technology. We do not believe that
the Government should prescribe the proportion of energy from any
particular technology, but of course we have transformed the
level of renewables since the hon. Gentleman’s party left
power—when I think the figure was less than 7% of electricity.
[Interruption.] Opposition Front Benchers may well groan, but it
is quite clear that Labour did not deliver. It is more than 40%
today—and we are.
As a direct result of the Conservative Government’s decision to
cut the “green crap” in 2015, every household’s bill is hundreds
of pounds higher. Does the Minister regret that mistake, and is
it not long past time to reform planning laws and to get on with
building the quickest, cheapest, cleanest forms of power, such as
onshore wind and solar, which would increase our energy security,
cut bills and tackle the climate crisis—work that the Government
have been blocking for far too long?
It was this Government who passed the net zero legislation. It
was this party that was the first major party to call for the
climateAct, which has driven this behaviour, and it was this
party that took us from 6.8% electricity from renewables to more
than 40% today. It is this party that brought in the contracts
for difference, which have been copied all over the world, and
which see tens of millions of pounds paid to reduce bills at the
moment, with the last round driving 11 GW of additional clean
energy into the system. It is this party that delivers on net
zero and the environment and it is that party—the Labour
party—that talks about it.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Minister.
(Sefton Central) (Lab)
Labour is committed to maximising the vast opportunities that
exist in developing the UK’s onshore and offshore wind
industries. In sharp contrast, the Conservative Government’s 12
years of low growth, low investment and low productivity saw the
UK’s largest wind tower factory at Campbeltown close. Labour will
increase onshore wind capacity. We will deliver jobs, lower bills
and energy security, and we will set up a publicly owned Great
British energy company. Is the truth not that Labour’s industrial
strategy is the credible way forward for UK energy
production?
If only Labour’s record in office was as good as the oratory that
the hon. Gentleman uses today—less than 7% of electricity was
from renewables then. We are also absolutely focused on
developing green jobs. We have developed those green jobs, but,
sadly, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said, it is
the fate of almost every Labour Government to come in with
promises and end up with higher dole queues than when they
started.
Marine Energy
(Delyn) (Ind)
6. What steps his Department is taking to support marine energy
generation. (901808)
(Totnes) (Con)
9. What assessment his Department has made of the potential
merits of tidal energy. (901811)
The Minister for Climate ()
I am delighted to say that, on 7 July, we announced that 40 MW of
new tidal stream power was secured in Scotland and Wales through
the contracts for difference round, and analysis has confirmed
the predictability, resilience and potential cost-effectiveness
of marine energy, which can play a key role in delivering energy
security and net zero.
Over a decade ago, nuclear power was dismissed as it was too
expensive, and it was said that it would not be online until
2022. How short-sighted has that proven to be? Does the Minister
agree that marine energy must not suffer the same fate as
nuclear? Does he also recognise that the cost will reduce over
time with investment, and will he meet Jim O’Toole from Mostyn
docks in my constituency to discuss his opportunities with tidal
stream?
There is long-standing Government support for wave and tidal
power research and development, with more than £175 million
having been invested in the area over the past two decades.
However, I agree with the hon. Gentleman that, where it can be
shown that it is cost-effective, tidal and marine energy has a
big role to play.
As is so often the case, local ideas can provide national
solutions. Will the Minister meet me and Rev. Andrew Langley from
my constituency, who is using his churches to look at using new
tidal technology to power the town of Dartmouth? Those are the
sort of schemes that we need to be looking at and then investing
in and supporting the technology.
Rev. Andrew Langley sounds like a community hero. It is exactly
that kind of grassroots approach that is at the heart of
Conservative philosophy as we deliver these high-level targets,
but we work with the whole community to see it delivered.
Community groups have a big role to play in our efforts to
eliminate our contribution to climate change, and of course I
would be delighted to meet my hon. Friend and his local hero,
Rev. Andrew Langley.
(Blaenau Gwent) (Lab)
A fortnight ago, I raised the Swansea bay tidal lagoon at
Treasury questions. The Chief Secretary to the Treasury kindly
offered me a meeting to discuss it. He was very positive, but
then, unfortunately, he lost his job. The potential of the
barrage for cheap renewable energy could really kickstart our
green economy in south Wales. Will the Minister reopen the
business case on this important project?
We consider a whole series of critical factors, including funding
mechanisms, planning considerations, the environmental impact and
whether the benefits of coastal and flood defence and energy
security can be included. Like the hon. Gentleman, I hope that we
can see a way forward and that tidal and marine energy can
compete with other technologies, as we bring about the
transformation that was talked about under his Government but is
being delivered under this one.
(Westmorland and Lonsdale) (LD)
The United Kingdom has the highest tidal range on the planet
after Canada, yet we use so very little of it, especially when we
consider that a massive majority of the supply chain for marine,
tidal and hydro is British. There are so many jobs to be made out
of all this. Will the Minister look particularly at the potential
for tidal energy in Morecambe bay? I know that his hon. Friends
on both sides of the bay agree with me on this, so will he meet
with me and others who are in favour of getting green energy out
of Morecambe bay to see whether we can take this forward?
We are seeing these technologies mature, and the hon. Gentleman
is right: tidal and floating offshore wind projects have won CfDs
for the first time ever, which will help these industries grow
and strengthen Britain’s homegrown renewables sector. As he says,
we have tremendous tidal potential in this country. He mentioned
a site further north, but the Severn estuary has the second
highest tidal range in the world, so if we can get it right,
there is huge untapped potential.
(Ynys Môn) (Con)
Anglesey is known as energy island. We have wind, wave, solar,
tidal, hydrogen and hopefully new nuclear. We have two excellent
tidal marine companies, Morlais and Minesto. When will the
Minister publish the parameters for the fifth CfD auction, which
is opening in March next year?
As my hon. Friend says, the fifth round is very exciting. We are
moving from two-yearly to annual rounds—of course, they were
interrupted by the pandemic, so it became slightly longer than
that. After 11 GW last year and with new technologies coming
through, we will come forward soon with information on that. I
look forward to seeing that yearly set-up leading to even more
renewables coming onstream.
(Huddersfield)
(Lab/Co-op)
My constituents do not like arrogance, and they do not like posh
arrogance even more. Is it not the case that the guilty group
here, most of whom were passionate Brexiteers, have done so much
damage to our economy? That means that tidal power, energy from waste and a
range of other alternatives have been languishing, because this
Government have no sense of direction and will not recognise what
the Bank of England Governor and previous Governors have said,
which is that we have been impoverished by leaving the European
Union.
Mr Speaker
I am not quite sure that that has got a lot to do with tidal
energy.
Well, there was there an attempted linkage to the question, but I
do not think that made it any less pompous or, indeed,
irrelevant.
Support for Energy Customers: Winter 2022-23
(Carshalton and Wallington)
(Con)
7. What steps he is taking to support households with energy
bills over winter 2022-23. (901809)
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ( )
We are providing a £400 discount through the energy bills support
scheme over this winter, as well as the energy price guarantee,
which will support millions of households and businesses with
rising energy costs, and we will continue to do so from now until
April next year. That is on top of a further £800 in one-off
support provided to 8 million of the most vulnerable households
to help with the cost of living, and of course pensioner
households can receive £300.
The cost of living, and especially energy, is of great concern to
my Carshalton and Wallington constituents. I welcome the
Government’s action on energy bills, but I know from talking to
many of my residents while out delivering my cost of living
advice guide that, apart from the energy price guarantee, they
are sometimes unaware of the additional support they may be
entitled to, including from their energy provider and the
Department for Work and Pensions, or the Government support
provided through local councils. Will my right hon. Friend
outline what steps he is taking to ensure that people are aware
of all avenues of support that are available to them?
Mr Rees-Mogg
My hon. Friend is quite right to raise this. Full details of the
help available to consumers can be found on the Government’s Help
for Households website, which people can get to from the gov.uk
website. That covers my Department’s extensive energy support
package and the additional help available, including through the
Department for Work and Pensions, such as income support. In
addition to the Help for Households site, we are communicating
information on the support available to help with energy bills
through suppliers, consumer groups and charities—and, it has to
be said, through first-class MPs running events in their
constituencies, who ensure that this happens—as well as through
the media and
(Brighton, Pavilion)
(Green)
When Chancellor, our new Prime Minister spent precious months
dragging his heels on energy efficiency, and now our fourth
Chancellor this year scrambles with a Treasury-led review of the
issue. We do not need more reviews to conclude that a paltry £1
billion extension to the energy company obligation falls far
short of what is needed. Will the Secretary of State accept that
to keep the UK’s homes warm and bills affordable for the long
term, we need at the very least a further emergency investment of
£3.6 billion over the rest of this Parliament, to kick-start the
hugely needed nationwide home insulation programme that people
are calling for?
Mr Rees-Mogg
There are focused and targeted schemes to help with energy
insulation. The hon. Lady pooh-poohs £1 billion, but £1 billion
is serious money, and it is going to help the households in the
greatest need. A lot of work is being done with social housing
landlords, but there are things people can do that lower the cost
of their energy without causing any lack of warmth, such as
turning down the boiler flow temperature, which almost all
households can do. That will be a saving for them on the cost of
energy and will make their heating more affordable; it will save
energy but also reduce bills.
Poverty in Deprived Communities
(Sheffield, Brightside and
Hillsborough) (Lab)
8. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on
the potential contribution of his Department to reducing poverty
in deprived communities. (901810)
The Minister for Industry ()
The best way we can help deprived communities is by creating good
jobs and growing the economy. By cutting red tape and boosting
innovation, we are enabling more businesses to create more
high-quality jobs. Cutting national insurance will encourage job
creation and ensure that workers have more of their own money,
but Government can also do their bit to help projects that will
facilitate economic growth, and I am pleased that some £87
million is being spent in Sheffield at present.
According to recent polling, 69% of my constituents are worried
about not being able to pay their energy bills. They are
terrified for the future, with prices set to rise in April, but
the latest new Prime Minister has shamefully boasted about taking
money away from deprived areas like mine. Does the Minister agree
that Britain needs a general election now, so that the public can
have their say on their future?
The hon. Lady will not be surprised to hear that I do not share
that opinion. She will appreciate my sincerity when I say that I
am very concerned to do my bit to make sure that those in
deprived communities feel reassured by the support they are
getting from this Government. We will make sure that her
constituents continue to get the support they need, but the best
thing we can all do is give that message of reassurance, not seek
to play party politics by calling for a general election.
(Harrow East) (Con)
Despite being the engine room of Britain’s economy, London still
has some of the most deprived areas in the country. Does my hon.
Friend agree that the best way we can get people out of poverty
is to create good, well-paid jobs, so that they can earn their
own living and have the ability to contribute to the economy?
My hon. Friend is quite right. We seem to have got ourselves into
a cul-de-sac of seeing deprivation as a result of geography, when
actually the truth is far from that; we have deprived communities
in all parts of our United Kingdom. It is important that we
ensure that everybody has access to good, well-paid employment.
We will achieve that by making sure that we are equipping people
with the skills that employers need and taking away the red tape
and tax barriers, to encourage firms to create new jobs. That is
the Government’s approach, and that is how we will grow our way
out of the problems we are facing.
Climate Change
(Kingston upon Hull West and
Hessle) (Lab)
10. What discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on
tackling climate change. (901812)
The Minister for Climate ()
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I work closely
with colleagues across the Government on the cross-Government
challenge of net zero. Only yesterday, the Climate Action
Implementation Committee met and discussed our progress on
meeting our net zero targets and the carbon budgets.
Tackling climate change is a win-win-win for Hull West and
Hessle,and indeed for Beverley and Holderness. Labour’s plan for
Great British Energy will provide good, green, local
manufacturing jobs in offshore wind and carbon capture, help
protect our planet and ensure our country’s future energy
security, but the short-termism of this Government and, sadly,
their high turnover of Ministers is not giving this crucial issue
the focus it needs and is preventing our country from developing
the long-term skills strategy that is needed to fill those jobs.
When will the Government stop fighting themselves and match
Labour’s ambition for our country?
In 2021 alone, £24 billion of new investment was committed across
low-carbon sectors in the UK. I share the hon. Lady’s enthusiasm
for what that can do for the whole country, particularly the
Humber area. We estimate that just over 69,000 green jobs have
been supported in the UK since the launch of the 10-point plan
for a green industrial revolution in November 2020, many of which
are in former industrial heartlands. It is important that Members
on both sides of the House send out the message that the whole
House is united in believing that net zero is the right place to
go and the UK is the right place to invest. I am sure that hon.
Members will send that message across the world.
(Bristol East) (Lab)
I sincerely thank the Secretary of State and the Minister for
Climate for helping to depose the Prime Minister last week with
their insistence on bringing back fracking. They may have
technically won the vote but, given the response of their MPs, it
is obvious that they lost the argument. Can the Minister now
confirm that the Government’s anti-green agenda has exited
Downing Street along with the outgoing Prime Minister? Will he
commit to bringing back the ban on fracking?
Perhaps it is the nature of being in Opposition that means that
people misrepresent things, but it is of course this party and
this Government who have driven the net zero strategy and are
greening our economy. [Interruption.]The Opposition may grumble
and they may not like it, but we can see it in all the numbers.
Just 14% of homes had an energy performance certificate rating of
C or above when Labour left office; that figure is 46% today.
Whether on energy efficiency, renewables or low-emission gas, we
are the party that has solutions.
Rare Minerals and Metals
(North West Durham)
(Con)
13. What steps he is taking to help secure the supply of rare
minerals and metals for industry and business. (901817)
The Minister for Science and Investment Security ( )
The Government published the critical minerals strategy last
summer, which sets out plans to accelerate the UK’s domestic
capabilities, collaborate with international partners, and
enhance international financial and trading markets. We are
expecting to publish a delivery plan by the end of the year to
refresh the strategy and ensure that we understand the global
race for critical minerals.
Mr Holden
I thank the Minister for her response. Northern Lithium and
Weardale Lithium in my constituency received more than £1 million
from the Department for their work looking at lithium, which is
vital for battery manufacture, including on Wearside at Nissan.
Will she commit to ensuring that those projects are proceeded
with at speed, so that we are not reliant on global factors, as
we have been with oil and gas in recent years?
Ms Ghani
Once again, my hon. Friend is a staunch advocate for North West
Durham and its businesses, particularly Weardale Lithium. We are
absolutely committed to ensuring that we have resilience and
security of supply. The Government are committed to building
domestic critical mineral supply chains and generating jobs and
wealth across the UK—for example, by supporting lithium projects
in County Durham via the automotive transformation fund. He has
often spoken about China; resilience is key.
(East Antrim) (DUP)
The Government’s plan for net zero by 2050 is unplanned and
uncosted. On top of that, we now have the difficulty of finding
the metals that are needed for batteries, magnets and the
required systems, because China controls 60% of earth metals.
Only this week, a Finnish Government report indicated that there
is not enough lithium in the world for the batteries that are
required for motor cars and battery storage. How will the
Government deliver on that unrealistic target?
Ms Ghani
There is indeed a race to secure critical minerals, especially
when countries such as China own so much of them. By 2040, the
world is expected to need four times as many critical minerals as
we can access today for clean energy technologies, but there is
work under way in collaboration with international partners and
in the UK with the Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre.
Intellectual Property Rights
Sir (Maldon) (Con)
14. What steps his Department is taking to safeguard intellectual
property rights. (901818)
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
The UK’s intellectual property framework and enforcement regime
is widely recognised as world-leading. Our trade deals help UK
businesses to get more from their rights overseas, and our
ambitious counter-infringement strategy protects the value of
investment in innovation and creativity.
Sir
My hon. Friend will be aware of the critical importance of
intellectual property protection to all the creative industries.
Will he therefore reaffirm the commitment of his predecessor to
look again at the proposal of the Intellectual Property Office to
expand the exception for text and data mining, which would
severely undermine intellectual property protection?
I thank my right hon. Friend for his question. I think we have a
shared love of the creative industries—definitely a love of film
and music—and I understand the concerns he raises. When it comes
to intellectual property, there is an absolute need to make sure
that we are at the forefront of that around the world. On his
specific question, the Government’s proposal on text and data
mining supports their ambition to be a world leader in artificial
intelligence research and innovation, but we recognise the
concerns of the creative industries and want to make sure we get
the balance right. That is why we will soon be launching a period
of stakeholder engagement to consider the best way to implement
the policy. I look forward to meeting him. He may want to bring
some people from the industry along, too. I would gladly do
that.
(Denton and Reddish)
(Lab)
We have seen an increase in research, sponsored by foreign
countries, across the UK developing dual-use technologies that
have benign civilian uses, but could be used for military
purposes. Can the Minister provide assurances to this House today
that IP developed on these shores will not be used against our
allies for military purposes?
I thank the hon. Member for his very important question. I will
gladly follow up in writing to assure him of the position of the
Government on the matter. What I would say is that the
Government’s proposal to create a new text and data mining
exception for copyright is part of their ambition to be a world
leader in artificial intelligence research and innovation.
Topical Questions
(Lichfield) (Con)
T1. If he will make a statement on his departmental
responsibilities.(901828)
The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy ( )
The Department’s work is at the vanguard of this Government’s
mission to go for growth. A secure supply of affordable energy is
the foundation for economic prosperity. The energy price
guarantee is bringing down bills for households, ensuring that
Britain’s most vulnerable can stay warm this winter, and our
energy bill relief scheme is cutting costs for schools, hospitals
and businesses. We are stepping in to support consumers now, but
we are focused on British energy security both for this winter
and the future. We continue to work closely with Ofgem, National
Grid and our international partners to secure our energy supply.
That will be a challenge this winter, particularly if we have a
cold winter, and is a matter of concern. The energy supply
taskforce has been negotiating to help with that.
We will ensure that everything is done to provide long-term green
growth, with new industries, new skills and new jobs. We are
cutting red tape to help existing businesses, particularly small
and medium-sized ones, saving thousands of pounds for tens of
thousands of companies. This is a central Government
Department.
I thank my right hon. Friend for his answer. He will know that
the west midlands is a major centre—if not the major centre—for
car manufacturing. What discussions has he had with the Mayor of
the West Midlands, who is a keen proponent for a gigafactory to
assist electric car manufacture based in Coventry?
Mr Rees-Mogg
I was actually in Coventry last week because it is a centre for
battery technology development, and my hon. Friend knows very
well that is one of the most effective
campaigning advocates for the west midlands. What is needed is
for companies to indicate that they want to invest in
gigafactories, and the Government stand ready to support as much
as we can.
Mr Speaker
I call the shadow Secretary of State.
(Stalybridge and Hyde)
(Lab/Co-op)
The Government’s economic crisis is now being paid for by every
household and business in this country, but the Government’s
failure goes well beyond the pantomime of the last few weeks.
Twelve years of Conservative Government have given us the lowest
rate of business investment in the G7, and that is with the
lowest headline rate of corporation tax. So why does the Business
Secretary believe the Conservative party has been so consistently
unable to provide a platform for the UK’s fantastic businesses to
invest in throughout the last 12 years?
Mr Rees-Mogg
What we have seen is the lowest level of unemployment in this
country since 1973. That is real people and real jobs, and
employment is the best route out of poverty. We have seen the
most enormous advance in clean energy, with more offshore wind
than any other country in the world. We have ensured that, during
this difficult winter, we were one of the first countries to come
forward with a comprehensive package to protect both domestic and
non-domestic users to ensure that the economy could thrive. The
hon. Gentleman complains that everything that has gone wrong is
the fault of the Government. He seems to have forgotten about
Ukraine and covid. Perhaps he should read the newspapers
occasionally.
Mr Speaker
I think you have forgotten that topicals have to be short and
sweet.
That was an interesting answer on the 12 years of failure—it was
perhaps an answer to a question, but not the one I asked. Our
wonderful businesses want to expand, invest and grow, but they
cannot do that with so much uncertainty hanging over the country.
The Conservative party cannot be the solution to that instability
because it is the cause of it. Will the Business Secretary give
us his honest view and tell us whether he still holds the view he
has expressed before—that what we should have, following a change
of Prime Minister, is a general election?
Mr Rees-Mogg
Pots and kettles, Mr Speaker—that was neither short nor sweet.
The greatest uncertainty of all is having socialists in office
because the socialists ruin economies wherever they go. They
create desolation, chaos and high taxes. As I said before, every
socialist Government have left office with higher unemployment,
including the short-lived one of 1923.
(Darlington) (Con)
I thank the BEIS ministerial team for the investment of £10.65
million in the Centre for Process Innovation at Darlington, which
is leading the way in ribonucleic acid technology. May I invite
the Minister to visit that fantastic facility in Darlington on
our amazing mile of opportunity?
The Minister of State, Department for Business, Energy and
Industrial Strategy ( )
The vaccine taskforce did indeed grant £10.65 million to fund the
launch of the CPI’s new centre of excellence in Darlington, and
my hon. Friend did a great job advocating for that investment.
That is on top of the £26.48 million that the vaccine taskforce
previously put in place at the centre. If time allows, and if I
continue to be the Minister, I will be more than happy to come
and visit.
(Liverpool, Riverside)
(Lab)
T2. This afternoon the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform)
Bill will be debated, and hard-working workers in my Liverpool,
Riverside constituency are very concerned that workers’ rights
and protections will be scrapped. Can the Minister confirm today
whether his Government are intending to remove the 48-hour
working week, minimum rest periods, parental and annual paid
leave, and other hard-won employee rights—yes or no?(901829)
Mr Rees-Mogg
The UK is not dependent on the EU for its rights. We had better
workers’ rights before we joined. We had longer periods for
maternity leave, even while we were a member of the European
Union. We are continuing to safeguard the rights of workers in
this country in a proper way. We do not need to be told to do so
by foreign Governments.
(Cheadle) (Con)
Whether it is grooming gangs, hospital deaths or economic crime,
it is often a whistleblower who highlights the criminal activity
and wrongdoing. They then often rely on the Public Interest
Disclosure Act 1998, which is not fit for purpose, to protect
them. Will the Minister meet me to discuss the manifesto of the
all-party group for whistleblowing, and its recommendations to
repeal PIDA and bring in an office of the whistleblower?
Mr Speaker
A “yes” will do.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy
and Industrial Strategy ()
I thank my hon. Friend for her question and her many years of
work in this area. She is a staunch advocate for whistleblowing,
and the chair of the all-party group for whistleblowing. I will
gladly meet her to explore the issue further. I confirm that His
Majesty’s Government are committed to the whistleblowing
framework that the Department is still looking at.
(Jarrow) (Lab)
T3. I thank the Minister for the constructive meeting that I and
others had with him last week regarding the Post Office Horizon
scandal, but he will know that no one from the Post Office,
Fujitsu or the Government has yet to be held accountable. At that
meeting, and last night in the other place, it was raised that
despite this scandal, the Government are still awarding
multimillion-pound contracts to Fujitsu. An apology from Fujitsu
is not enough. Will the Secretary of State commit to pausing and
reviewing all existing Government contracts with that appalling
company?(901830)
I thank the hon. Lady for her question and for meeting last week.
The Horizon scandal was awful and I will gladly follow up with
further meetings to discuss the matter further.
(New Forest West) (Con)
Will the Minister expedite the track 2 process for carbon
capture, usage and storage?
The Minister for Climate ()
Yes.
(North East Fife)
(LD)
T4. We know that businesses need certainty on energy, and that is
even more important for those working in essential services such
as social care. A care home in my constituency cannot even source
a broker to be able to look at future deals. What assessment have
the Government made of the brokerage industry so that it can
provide that vital support?(901831)
Mr Rees-Mogg
One of the things that we are doing in the Bill that is receiving
Royal Assent pretty much as we speak, is ensuring that there are
powers to deal with any inefficiencies in the market. I am very
concerned that the wholesale price cuts provided by the taxpayer
feed through to the retail market, and there are powers in the
Bill to ensure that that happens.
(Hexham) (Con)
Does the Secretary of State agree that we need to support UK
forestry production, which supports companies such as Egger in my
constituency, and that the best way to do that is to ensure a
minimum of 1% forestry planting on public sector land?
Mr Rees-Mogg
Forestry is not one of the Department’s many responsibilities,
but I will certainly take up my hon. Friend’s excellent point
with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs.
(Lewisham West and Penge)
(Lab)
T5. Postal workers at the depots in Forest Hill and Anerley in my
constituency do a brilliant job, but they have faced weakening
pay and conditions and now their jobs are under threat as Royal
Mail looks to cut 10,000 positions. During a cost of living
crisis, how can the Government allow that company to turn its
back on hard-working staff? How is reducing the workforce
compatible with maintaining the universal service
obligation?(901832)
That is a matter for the management of the company and its
workforce to resolve. Disruption due to strike action impacts on
consumers, businesses and other users. We are monitoring the
dispute and urge both sides to reach an agreement as soon as
possible.
(Newport West) (Lab)
T6. The future of our planet is important to people in Newport
West, who know that our climate is burning. We can see the impact
all across the globe. With that in mind, what environmental
assessment has the Minister made of the impact of a new round of
oil and gas licences on the UK’s international climate
commitment?(901833)
We have an assessment process for all new licences to look at
that and see its overall impact.
(Brent North) (Lab)
T8. The Minister accused this side of the House of
misrepresenting the figures on climate change, but it is the
independent Climate Change Committee that says that the
Government are not on track to achieve net zero and that 61% of
their own targets for emission reductions have no credible plan
in place to achieve them. Is the committee also misrepresenting
the facts?(901836)
We are on track. [Interruption.]We are on track and we are
focused on delivering that. The margins are tighter than we would
like, but we are on track, we have delivered to date and we will
deliver in future.
(Swansea West)
(Lab/Co-op)
Will the Secretary of State meet me and Swansea University to
talk about using off-peak renewables to convert plastics into
hydrogen and blending that in the gas grid, as his predecessor
did, as part of the growth agenda? I appreciate that his
predecessor did not do very well following that meeting.
Ms Ghani
I note that the hon. Member has raised the issue a number of
times with BEIS. I am grateful that he has done so again. We are
encouraged to hear about the development of new hydrogen
technologies in Swansea. I know that the previous Secretary of
State visited Swansea University. A range of Government support
is already available for hydrogen production. The net zero
hydrogen fund, the net zero innovation portfolio and the UK
shared prosperity fund would help very much in Swansea.
Mr Speaker
I call the Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
Committee.
(Bristol North West) (Lab)
British researchers are desperately waiting for an update on the
UK’s association to Horizon Europe. The former science Minister
pledged to publish the details for the replacement scheme, should
our association not be concluded, before the summer recess, but
they have still not been published. When will they be?
Ms Ghani
It is curious to respond to the Chair of the Select Committee of
which I was once a member. We are waiting for the EU to make a
decision on our association to Horizon. It is not within our
grasp. We are still focused on securing association, but it would
be irresponsible not to pivot if that was not forthcoming in the
near future. [Interruption.] The hon. Member is gesticulating at
me, but he knows very well that we are prepared to pivot and have
guarantee schemes in place to help researchers and academics if
needed.
(Rutherglen and Hamilton
West) (Ind)
In addition to the life-changing innovations from Cancer Research
UK, medical research charities make huge economic contributions.
How are the Government supporting charities such as Cancer
Research UK, and investing in cancer research more broadly, so
that they can continue to be such a huge driver of economic
growth?
Ms Ghani
One of the first meetings I had as the Minister with
responsibility for life sciences was with Life Sciences Vision
and the mission team, chaired by and Jon Symonds. This is done
with the Department of Health and Social Care, and of course we
are looking at this particular issue as well. The hon. Member
will be aware of the £375 million grant, which is focused on
investing in research into these sorts of diseases. We will
shortly be announcing six new life science missions. The hon.
Lady will no doubt be pleased to hear that they will cover
dementia, cancer, mental health, obesity and addiction.
(Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab)
Judging from the earlier answer, can the public now assume that
the Government are happy for Royal Mail management to drive the
company into the ground, sack 10,000 people and reduce ex-workers
to poverty—and the Government do not even have a view?
Decisions on staffing levels and workforce structure are for
Royal Mail. Collective redundancy legislation requires employers
to consult employees or their representatives within a 90-day
period, and that must include consultation on ways to avoid
redundancies, reducing the number of redundancies or mitigating
their impact. We want a resolution as soon as possible.
(Kilmarnock and Loudoun)
(SNP)
The previous Secretary of State admitted that he had ignored
looking at a price mechanism for pump storage hydro because he
viewed it as a Scottish technology. It is actually a vital form
of energy storage going forward, so can I get a commitment today
on a timescale for BEIS officials to speak to SSE about a pricing
mechanism for generating electricity at Coire Glas?
Mr Rees-Mogg
The hon. Gentleman is an effective campaigner for pump hydro
storage and it is important to look at that. We are looking at
all possibilities for maximising renewable energy.
(York Central)
(Lab/Co-op)
Today’s news that an additional 10,000 people every single month
are now on pre-payment meters, bringing the total to 7.5 million,
is deeply troubling, not least as they are paying up to 27% more
for their energy. What steps will the Secretary of State take to
ensure that there is poverty alleviation on energy for the very
poorest?
Mr Rees-Mogg
As I have said already, schemes are in place to support people
during the winter. There is £800 available that has already been
announced. There is the £400 that everybody will get. I also went
through the additional schemes that are available to support
people. I absolutely recognise—the hon. Lady is right to raise
this on behalf of her constituents—that the price rises are
difficult and worrying for people. That is why such a wide
package of support has been brought forward.
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