Gareth Snell MP: written questions
327 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Government Departments: ProcurementCabinet OfficeTabled 9 Jun 2026AnsweredUIN 8105More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent discussions he has Cabinet colleagues on increasing levels of insourcing.
Answer: This Labour Government is committed to delivering the biggest wave of insourcing of public services in a generation, ending outsourcing by default.On 17 June, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, the Chancellor and I introduced a new Public Interest...
Answered 23 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordAgriculture: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 176More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy costs on business investment in the agricultural sector.
Answer: The Government recognises that energy costs are a significant factor influencing business investment decisions, including in the agricultural sector. We understand the challenges that high industrial electricity prices present to businesses. This is why w...
Answered 20 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 175More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to publish key performance indicators on the impact of Government energy support on business productivity.
Answer: The Government currently does not have any plans to publish key performance indicators on the impact of current energy support schemes on business productivity. The Government has also not measured the impact of energy support schemes on the productivity ...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordCultural Heritage: EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 174More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on the energy costs of heritage businesses and listed commercial buildings.
Answer: The Department recently engaged with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the proposals to improve the energy performance of buildings, including heritage and listed commercial properties. The Government consulted on reforms to Energy Performanc...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordNatural Gas and Renewable Energy: PricesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 173More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero on long-term reform of the electricity market to decouple gas and renewable prices for business users.
Answer: The Secretary of State for Business and Trade continues to have regular discussions with all Cabinet colleagues, including the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBatteries: StorageDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 172More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the British Business Bank on the provision of low-interest loans for industrial battery storage systems.
Answer: The Business Secretary has regular discussions with the British Business Bank on a range of issues relating to access to finance for smaller businesses. No recent discussions have taken place specifically on the provision of low-interest loans for industr...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordManufacturing Industries: ResearchDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 171More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of high energy costs on the R&D budgets of manufacturing firms.
Answer: This Government is committed to reducing energy costs for energy intensive businesses, including eligible manufacturers investing in R&D. From 2027 the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will reduce electricity costs for over 10,000 elig...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 170More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding the transparency of energy pricing in the commercial sub-metering market.
Answer: There have been no recent discussions with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on the transparency of energy pricing in the commercial sub‑metering market. Decisions on whether to take action in specific markets are a matter for the CMA, as the UK...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordConsumer Goods: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to brief UK trade envoys on the energy-related strengths of the UK’s low-carbon goods and services sector.
Answer: Trade Envoys are briefed on each of the Industrial Strategy priority sectors, including the objectives of the Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, and the UK's strengths in these supply chains. Prior to a market visit, Trade Envoys are briefed on the key ...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness Rates: Tax AllowancesTreasuryTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 168More
Question: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on business rate relief for firms that install external wall insulation on industrial units to reduce energy costs.
Answer: The Government is committed to supporting businesses to improve the energy efficiency of their premises, helping to reduce their energy costs. The business rates system already provides certain reliefs and exemptions, including Improvement Relief which pr...
Answered 21 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSocial Enterprises: EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 167More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of recent changes to energy costs on the level of profit reinvestment by social enterprises into local communities.
Answer: We are closely monitoring the impact of energy prices on businesses, communities, and social enterprises caused by the instability in the middle east, and much will depend on the length of the ongoing crisis. We are increasing the Boiler Upgrade Scheme (B...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordEnergy: PricesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 166More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of fluctuations in energy prices on the availability of professional indemnity insurance for energy consultants.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade has not conducted a formal assessment on the impact of fluctuations in energy prices on the availability of professional indemnity insurance for energy consultants.Regulatory bodies like Ofgem monitor the broader ener...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 165More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of business energy costs on the utilisation rates of UK-EU trade preferences under the Trade and Cooperation Agreement.
Answer: We are closely monitoring the impact of rising energy prices, driven by global events. We have announced measures to help businesses most impacted by those rising energy prices to electrify their heating and provide greater certainty over energy bills as ...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness Premises: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 164More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of service charge increases due to communal energy costs on the viability of managed workspace providers.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade has made no formal assessment on the impact of service charge increases due to communal energy costs on the viability of managed workspace providers.Ofgem is currently reviewing the Maximum Resale Price (MRP) rules, w...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordAerospace Industry: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 163More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to ensure that increased energy costs do not cause carbon leakage in the UK’s aerospace supply chain.
Answer: The Government recognises the risk of carbon leakage from higher energy costs for internationally traded sectors such as aerospace. From April 2027, the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will provide support to eligible manufacturers helping them ...
Answered 18 May 2026
Original Parliament recordRecycling: EnergyDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 162More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps she is taking to support the circular economy sector with energy costs related to material reprocessing and recycling.
Answer: The only way to bring energy bills down sustainably is by reducing Britain’s exposure to volatile fossil fuel markets. The Government’s mission for Clean Power by 2030 will get us off the rollercoaster of fossil fuel prices, to cut bills for businesses an...
Answered 11 Jun 2026
Original Parliament recordIndustry: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 161More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made a comparative assessment of industrial energy subsidies (a) provided by the US under the Inflation Reduction Act and (b) available to UK firms.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade has not made a comparative assessment of industrial energy subsidies provided by the US under the Inflation Reduction Act.The Government remains committed to ensuring British businesses are internationally competitive...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordExports: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 160More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy price differentials on the volume of UK services exports to CPTPP member nations.
Answer: Specific analysis on the impact of energy price differentials on services exports to CPTPP has not been produced.The Government published an Impact Assessment in 2023 that estimated the potential impacts of UK accession to CPTPP, which found that the majo...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordSmall Businesses: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 159More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he is taking steps to encourage the development of insurance products to protect small businesses against sudden energy price spikes.
Answer: The government recognises that energy costs are a real concern for small businesses. Government supports a competitive insurance market and encourages firms to shop around for suitable cover. Businesses struggling to secure insurance can contact the Briti...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordNew Businesses: EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 158More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards on the availability of affordable commercial rental space for start-ups.
Answer: The Government has not identified evidence that Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards have reduced the availability of affordable commercial rental space for start-ups. The department’s Impact Assessment has shown that costs for building improvements would ...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 13 May 2026AnsweredUIN 157More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has assessed the potential effectiveness of Energy as a Service business models in reducing upfront capital barriers for UK manufacturers.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade has made no formal assessment on the potential effectiveness of Energy as a Service business model in reducing upfront capital barriers for UK manufacturers.More broadly, the Government recognises that upfront costs c...
Answered 22 May 2026
Original Parliament recordConsumer Goods: Carbon EmissionsDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129916More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to brief UK trade envoys on the energy-related strengths of the UK’s low-carbon goods and services sector.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordCompetition and Markets AuthorityDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129915More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent discussions he has had with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) regarding the transparency of energy pricing in the commercial sub-metering market.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBusiness: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129914More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he plans to publish key performance indicators on the impact of Government energy support on business productivity.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordRecycling: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 27 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129913More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to support the circular economy sector with energy costs related to material reprocessing and recycling.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
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