Gareth Snell MP: written questions 2026

155 published records · newest first.

Written questions

Hydrogen: BusinessDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129680More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to support businesses in piloting industrial-scale hydrogen fuel switching.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Business: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129679More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to protect businesses from withdrawal of credit insurance due to rising energy liabilities.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Energy: BusinessDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129678More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of energy suppliers unilaterally changing payment terms for business customers.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Small Businesses: EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129677More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure that small businesses have access to affordable legal recourse in disputes with energy suppliers.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Business: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129676More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of take-or-pay clauses in commercial energy contracts on business liquidity.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to the Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Business: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 24 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129675More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of energy costs on the survival rate of new businesses in Freeports.
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
Fuel Oil and Liquefied Petroleum Gas: BusinessDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129674More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support businesses in rural areas that are off the gas grid and reliant on heating oil or Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Business: EnergyDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 24 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129670More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department's policies of differences in business energy costs between the different nations and regions of the UK.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Energy: PricesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129221More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the impact of energy costs on the government’s regional growth objectives.
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
Electric Vehicles: BatteriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129220More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support is available to the automotive supply chain to manage the energy-intensive processes of battery component manufacturing.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade manages two electricity 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 emiss...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Beer: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129219More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy prices on the operational costs of independent breweries.
Answer: The Government recognises the pressures that high energy costs can place on independent breweries. We engage regularly with colleagues across Government on measures to support businesses, and we keep the impact of energy prices under close review. The Ene...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Cultural Heritage: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129218More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, 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: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Life Sciences: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129217More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of trends in the level of energy cost pressures for the life sciences and laboratory sectors.
Answer: The Government is aware of the pressure of high industrial energy costs in the life sciences and laboratory sectors. Officials from the Office for Life Sciences regularly engage with both companies and Trade Associations to understand the challenges facin...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Energy: Cleaning ServicesDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129216More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to support the commercial laundry sector with levels of thermal energy required for its operations.
Answer: It has not proved possible to respond to my hon. Friend in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Semiconductors: Manufacturing IndustriesDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129215More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of energy costs on the domestic semiconductor manufacturing supply chain.
Answer: From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) will cut energy bills by up to 25% for eligible, energy-intensive manufacturers in the priority industries in the Industrial Strategy -including semiconductors. This will give businesses ...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Energy: PricesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129214More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans he has to consult with British Chambers of Commerce on the design of future energy cost mitigation policies.
Answer: The Government is committed to working closely with industry to support business competitiveness and mitigate energy costs and regularly meets with business representative organisations, such as the British Chambers of Commerce. The design of the British ...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Retail Trade: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129213More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy costs on the survival of high-street independent retailers.
Answer: 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,...
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Agriculture: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129212More
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: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Energy Intensive IndustriesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129211More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that the UK’s "Clean Energy Superpower" mission reduces costs for gas-intensive businesses by 2030.
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
Manufacturing Industries: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129210More
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: It has not proved possible to respond to the hon. Member in the time available before Prorogation.
Answered 29 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Business: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129209More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what estimate his Department has made of the number of businesses that have relocated production overseas due to energy costs in the last 24 months.
Answer: The Department for Business and Trade does not hold this information. We continue to support UK businesses and have many avenues through which businesses of all sizes can explore opportunities to grow internationally. We will continue to review how we can...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Energy: Foreign Investment in UKDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129208More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of energy costs on the UK’s attractiveness for Foreign Direct Investment.
Answer: We understand the scale and depth of challenge that high industrial electricity prices present to businesses. This is why we are addressing wholesale and network costs through long‑term investment in clean, homegrown power to reduce exposure to volatile f...
Answered 28 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Ports: EnergyDepartment for TransportTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129207More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps she is taking to ensure that port infrastructure has access to affordable energy for shore-side power projects.
Answer: The Government is taking action to reform the grid connections process to ensure port infrastructure, such as shore power, can access the energy they need for maritime. In addition, the Government is currently considering policy options to accelerate conn...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Storage: EnergyDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129206More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what support his Department provides to cold-storage logistics providers to manage peak-time energy tariffs.
Answer: Government recognises the importance of electrification of transport, including heavy goods vehicles, in delivering transport decarbonisation targets, and is aware of the impact that energy costs are having on different sectors, including logistics.Govern...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record
Large Goods Vehicles: Electric VehiclesDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 22 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 129205More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on energy costs associated with the electrification of commercial heavy goods vehicle fleets.
Answer: Government recognises the importance of electrification of transport, including heavy goods vehicles, in delivering transport decarbonisation targets, and is aware of the impact that energy costs are having on different sectors, including logistics.Govern...
Answered 27 Apr 2026
Original Parliament record

Published records only — not a full account of an MP’s work. How we work →