Question follow-through · 128267
Small Businesses: Energy
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the impact of standing charges on the total energy costs of small businesses.
About this written question
A written question asks a government minister for information in writing. Parliament publishes the question and any answer.
- Answering body
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
- Tabled
- 20 Apr 2026
- Target answer date
- 22 Apr 2026
- Answer
- 28 Apr 2026 · 8 calendar days after tabling
Elapsed calendar days describe the record timeline, not whether Parliament considers an answer on time.
More questions by this MP on Environment and energy
- Business Premises: Energy · 21 Apr 2026
- Industrial Energy Transformation Fund · 21 Apr 2026
- Industry: Carbon Emissions and Energy · 21 Apr 2026
- Business: Energy · 21 Apr 2026
- Business: Heating · 21 Apr 2026
Shared topic keywords suggest a connection; they do not establish a follow-up.
Votes on this topic
- Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 5 · 1 Jul 2026
- Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 4 · 1 Jul 2026
- Taxation (Energy and Vehicles) Bill Committee: New Clause 2 · 1 Jul 2026
These Commons divisions share a topic label. The question did not necessarily lead to a vote.
Recorded timeline
20 Apr 2026
Question tabled
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the impact of standing charges on the total energy costs of small businesses.
22 Apr 2026
Target answer date
Date supplied by the official written-questions record.
28 Apr 2026
Answer published
The Government recognises that standing charges can be a significant concern for some businesses. Ofgem is conducting a holistic review of how energy system costs, including network costs, should be paid for in the future, as part of its Cost Allocation a...
Official data retrieved 28 Sept 2026.
Later records
Possible follow-up questions
Strong links require the same MP, department and exact heading. Other same-department questions are shown as unreviewed candidates, not as confirmed follow-ups. No debate link is asserted unless a stable source relationship exists.
Business Premises: Energy
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support his Department is providing to businesses to improve the energy efficiency of commercial premises.
Industrial Energy Transformation Fund
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the take-up of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund.
Industry: Carbon Emissions and Energy
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what plans he has to increase funding for the Industrial Decarbonisation and Energy Efficiency Roadmaps.
Business: Energy
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of effectiveness of the role of smart meters in helping businesses manage energy (a) demand and (b) costs.
Business: Heating
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help decrease the capital costs for businesses moving from gas to electric heating systems.
Food and Drinks: Carbon Emissions
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what support is available to the food and drink sector to transition to low-carbon refrigeration.
Hospitality Industry: Waste Heat Recovery
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what estimate his Department has made of the potential energy savings for the hospitality sector through the adoption of heat recovery systems.
Energy: Conservation
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to improve the application process for energy efficiency grants.
Business: Energy
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with Ofgem regarding the regulation of the non-domestic energy market.
Business: Energy
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to help prevent energy brokers from charging excessive hidden commissions to business clients.
Business: Energy
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the prevalence of deemed rates being charged to businesses without fixed-term energy contracts.
Small Businesses: Energy
21 Apr 2026 · To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to help protect small businesses from aggressive debt recovery practices by energy suppliers.