Tag: Department for Business and Industrial Strategy

The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 10 January 2023.

Increasing minimum efficiency standards for lighting could cut energy use and save money for households and businesses across Great Britain. New proposals would introduce performance standards that are higher than regulations currently in place in either the US or EU switching to more efficient lighting can save a household around £2,000 to £3,000 over the lifetime of the bulbs, depending on the size of the home

Households and businesses across Great Britain could cut their energy use and save money on bills by having some of the most efficient lighting in the world under new government proposals being announced today (Tuesday 10 January).

The new proposals will ensure that lighting in domestic and non-domestic buildings in England, Scotland and Wales meets minimum energy performance standards that are higher than regulations currently in place in either the US or the EU.

Introducing higher standards for lighting products will see only the most energy efficient light bulbs, such as ones powered by low energy-use LEDs, available in shops, making it easier for consumers to replace old bulbs with ones that use less energy while still providing the same levels of lighting performance.

With new bulbs being cheaper to run, replacing a household’s halogen bulbs with LEDs consumers can expect savings of around £2,000 to £3,000 over the lifetime of the bulbs, depending on the size of the home.

Business and Energy Minister Lord Callanan said:

“Putin’s warmongering in Ukraine means everyone is feeling the effect of higher energy bills this winter, but these new standards can help lighten the load by ensuring British homes and businesses are lit as efficiently as possible.

As we’ve shown in the government’s energy saving campaign, small changes, like switching to more efficient light bulbs, can add up to big savings.

By going further with these regulations than either the US or EU, British homes, factories and offices will have some of the cheapest and greenest lighting in the world, helping keep down bills and reducing energy usage.”

Global innovation in lighting technology in recent years has made it possible to achieve greater energy savings and the proposed new minimum energy performance standard reflect what is already technologically and reasonably achievable for lighting products.

As of March 2022, half of product models on the GB market already met this standard, but with lighting accounting for a significant portion of electricity use in buildings, the proposed regulations could result in 1.7 million tonnes of carbon savings by 2050, the equivalent of a year’s worth of carbon emissions from 2.5 million UK households.

If adopted, the proposals in the government consultation being launched today would come into force in late 2023, with further increased minimum standards introduced from September 2027.

Stew Horne, head of policy at Energy Saving Trust said:

“Energy Saving Trust welcomes the government’s proposals to improve lighting performance standards, which would directly benefit households and businesses by saving energy and reducing bills. We look forward to helping shape these standards as part of the transition to decarbonisation.”

Making homes and businesses more energy efficient and so bringing down fuel bills is part of the government’s wider long-term commitment, announced as part of the Autumn Statement, to reduce the UK’s final energy consumption from buildings and industry by 15% by 2030 against 2021 levels.

Improving the energy efficiency of homes is the best long-term method of cutting household energy use and bringing down bills. That is why the government is accelerating the pace of upgrading the energy efficiency of housing with £6 billion of funding committed to 2028 in addition to £6.6 billion in this parliament.

A further £4 billion has been committed through ECO4 scheme, which is delivering home insulation measures to low income and more vulnerable households, and the £1 billion ECO+ scheme, which will install measures in households who have previously not been able to access support through the Energy Company Obligation scheme.

The government has also launched the £18 million ‘It All Adds Up’ energy saving campaign to raise public awareness of straightforward actions that people can take to cut their bills by bringing down the amount of energy needed to keep their homes warm and stay safe this winter.

This comes in addition to an unprecedented package of government support that is helping households meet their energy costs this winter, including the Energy Price Guarantee, saving a typical household over £900, the Energy Bills Support Scheme providing a £400 discount to millions and the most vulnerable receiving £1,200 each this year.

The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 5 January 2023.

Ministers are reaching out to unions to invite them to sit down and discuss the evidence that the government will be submitting to the pay review bodies – and hopes that unions will also share their evidence.

If the offer is accepted, discussions will take place between government departments and unions in the coming weeks on issues including pay evidence, workload and conditions in the public sector. These discussions will help ensure the evidence submitted to the pay review bodies is as considered and informed as possible, including reflecting areas of common ground.

The government is clear that the well-established independent pay review process is the right way to set public sector pay – it provides independent, expert advice and is a neutral process in which all parties play a role. These new discussions would feed into this process and are offered as the government recognises the particular economic challenges the country faces this year.

Unions must also recognise these challenges and play their part in finding an agreement that balances giving workers a fair and reasonable settlement with continuing to take steps to bring down inflation and protect households’ budgets. The inflation-matching pay awards that many of the unions are demanding will make the fight against inflation more challenging, and risks interest rates, mortgage payments and bills rising for people as a result. This would erode the value of any pay increase for public sector workers and hurt households across the country.

While these conversations take place, the government calls on the unions to cancel upcoming strikes in a bid to resolve these disputes constructively through dialogue.

However, the government also has a duty to the public to ensure their safety, protect their access to vital public services, and help them go about their daily lives. The government will always protect the ability to strike, but it must be balanced with the public’s right to life and livelihoods. That’s why the government will introduce new laws to ensure a basic level of service in some of our most crucial sectors when industrial action takes place.

The government will introduce a bill in Parliament in the coming weeks to take the power to ensure that vital public services will have to maintain a basic function and deliver minimum safety levels during industrial action.

Minimum safety levels will be set for fire, ambulance and rail services and the government will consult on the adequate level of coverage for these sectors, recognising that disruption to blue light services puts lives at immediate risk.

For the other sectors covered in the bill, which includes health services, education, nuclear decommissioning, other transport services and border security, the government expects to continue to reach voluntary agreements, and would only look to consult on minimum safety levels should these voluntary positions not be agreed.

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said:

We hugely value the work of our public services and we’re reaching out to unions to have an honest conversation on pay, conditions and reform. Industrial action is disruptive for everyone – from people relying on essential services to get to work or care for their family to hard-working business owners whose sales suffer. It also costs those striking at a time when family budgets are tight.

As well as protecting the freedom to strike, the government must also protect life and livelihoods. While we hope that voluntary agreements can continue to be made in most cases, introducing minimum safety levels – the minimum levels of service we expect to be provided – will restore the balance between those seeking to strike and protecting the public from disproportionate disruption.

As has been demonstrated over the last year, wide scale and repetitive industrial action can act as a major blockage to economic growth by preventing people from getting to work. Introducing the safety net of minimum service levels to ensure that the public are not put at risk during strike action is the best way of balancing the ability to strike, while protecting the wider public.

This package of measures will see the UK align with many countries across the world such as France and Spain that already have minimum service agreements in place, to prevent large swathes of their economies being ground to a halt by industrial action.

Today’s reforms follow a change in the law made by the government in July 2022 enabling businesses to provide skilled agency workers to fill vital staffing gaps caused by industrial strike action. At the same time, the government also increased the damages a court can award for unlawful strike action.

The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 4 January 2023.

The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 2 January 2023.

Nuclear fuel production in the UK is set to be bolstered by up to £75 million in UK government funding in a bid to support development of alternatives to Russian fuel supply and strengthen UK energy security, the Energy and Climate Minister Graham Stuart has announced today (2 January).

This will encourage investment in new and robust fuel production capabilities in the UK, backing the government’s ambition to secure up to 24GW of nuclear power by 2050.

G7 leaders agreed in June to begin concerted action to reduce reliance on civil nuclear and related goods from Russia, including working to diversify their supplies of uranium and nuclear fuel production capability. Russia currently owns around 20% of global uranium conversion capacity and 40% of enrichment capacity.

The UK’s £75 million Nuclear Fuel Fund will strengthen energy security by encouraging investment into the development and commercialisation of domestic nuclear fuel production including advanced fuel technologies.

This includes the development of new conversion capacity in the UK for both freshly mined and reprocessed uranium. These will help power existing as well as future advanced nuclear reactors – and support international diversification from Russian fuel supply.

Minister of State for Energy and Climate Graham Stuart, said:

Record high global gas prices, caused by Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, have highlighted the need for more home-grown renewable energy, but also UK generated nuclear power – building more plants, and developing domestic fuel capability.

This investment package will strengthen the UK’s energy security, by ensuring access to a safe and secure supply of UK produced fuel to power the UK nuclear fleet of today and tomorrow – squeezing out Russian influence, while creating more UK jobs and export opportunities.

Up to £13 million of the fund has already been awarded in Preston, which has strategic importance to fabricating fuel for the current UK advanced gas cooled reactor fleet. The funding will help the company develop primary conversion capability for both reprocessed uranium and freshly mined uranium.

The support will provide for significant investment at the Springfields site in Lancashire, safeguarding hundreds of highly skilled jobs in the North West.

Uranium conversion is an important stage in the nuclear fuel cycle. The funding will create expert nuclear fuel capability to convert recycled uranium in the UK that is not currently available outside Russia. As well as bolstering UK energy security, ministers hope it will also deliver export opportunities for the sector and position the UK as a key international supplier of nuclear fuel and fuel cycle services.

The government aims for the remaining £50 million fund, which opens for bids today, to stimulate a diverse and resilient nuclear fuel market, supporting specialist skills, levelling up opportunities through new job creation across the country and opening up new export opportunities.

It will support projects establishing new domestic fuel capabilities, which could include fuel supply options for Light Water Reactors, including future Small Modular Reactors, that could support much of our current nuclear energy needs. It will also look to support projects producing new fuel types which will be needed to supply Advanced Modular Reactors, likely to be in operation from the 2030s, such as High Assay Low Enriched Uranium.

Chief Executive of the Nuclear Industry Association Tom Greatrex, said:

Having the sovereign capability to manufacture next generation nuclear fuels for advanced reactors of the future is vital for energy security and net zero.

It will also open up export opportunities for the UK, helping us reclaim our place as world leaders in the fuels sector.

The news comes just over a month after ministers announced the further revitalisation of the UK nuclear industry, by confirming the first state backing of a nuclear project in over 30 years, with an historic £700 million stake in Sizewell C in Suffolk. The power station will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of 6 million homes for over 50 years. The nuclear acceleration requires pushing ahead to deliver new reactors, including advanced modular reactors, which will need new fuel streams.

The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 21 December 2022.

The Issue

Regulation 46 ensures transparency for tied tenants in relation to premises insurance and gives them the right to find a cheaper policy.

Star Pubs and Bars’ Code Compliance Officer – whose role it is to verify compliance with the Code – reported to the PCA in August 2021 that information provided to tenants about premises insurance had not complied with regulation 46. Star said this had caused no detriment to tenants. The PCA has since confirmed this compliance issue runs from the start of the Code in 2016.

Under regulation 46, the pub company must provide the tenant with information about the premises insurance where it intends to charge the tenant in respect of the premium. This ensures full transparency and allows the tenant to look for a cheaper policy. If they find one that is suitable and comparable, the pub company must buy that policy or agree the tenant will not have to pay the difference.

Specifically, the information supplied under regulation 46(2) must include whether the amount the pub company charges the tenant to insure the premises is more than it pays in respect of the insurance premium, and how much more that is. The pub company must also say whether it will receive any commission or rebate in connection with the policy.

Star took the view that it was not possible to comply with regulation 46(2) due to its self-insurance arrangements through a company owned by the Heineken group (which also owns Star). Star told the PCA that at the point it had to write to tenants under regulation 46, it was unable to say whether there was information it needed to provide under 46(2), particularly as it did not hold information on the insurance premium for a particular premises.

Star also admitted that correspondence sent to tenants in December 2020 about the insurance recharge had not included necessary detail about the identity and operation of its policy and the option to price match. Further information was sent to tenants in March 2021 to address this and Star has since updated its Guide to Insurance Responsibilities to make the position clearer. Star has also assured the PCA that in future such correspondence will be signed off by its Code Compliance Officer and legal team.

The PCA continues to work with Star to ensure there is transparency for tenants as required by regulation 46 and to assess the extent of previous breaches of regulation 46 and any impact on tenants from non-compliance. Enquiries are also being made with other pub companies to ensure compliance where there are similar self-insurance arrangements. Further information will be published as appropriate.

The press release issued by HM Treasury on 20 December 2022.

More than £30 million of funding will deliver low carbon heat and help consumers move away from costly fossil fuels as part of government push to cut emissions.

More than £30 million of funding will benefit homes and businesses in three communities to deliver low carbon heat and help consumers move away from costly fossil fuels as part of the government’s push to cut emissions.

Projects in Hull and Peterborough are the first to secure funding through the Green Heat Network Fund (GHNF), a £288 million government funding scheme launched in March this year.

Heat networks offer carbon emissions savings by supplying heat to buildings from a central source, avoiding the need for households and workplaces to rely on individual, energy-intensive heating solutions – such as gas boilers. As such, heat networks provide a significant contribution to the UK’s carbon reduction commitment.

The two cities will receive more than £27 million from the total funding allocation, to support initiatives that deliver clean heating to households, offices, commercial and public buildings, reducing energy bills and carbon emissions at the same time.

The GHNF funding will pave the way for low carbon technologies – like heat pumps, solar and geothermal energy – to be delivered at scale and established as a central heating source. The scheme is expected to reduce emissions equivalent to taking 5.6 million cars off the road for a year.

Meanwhile, in Wigan more than £2.6 million has been made available through one of the final awards from the £320 million Heat Networks Investment Project, which was succeeded by the GHNF this year after running since 2018.

Energy Minister Lord Callanan said:

It’s vital that we invest in cutting edge technologies, like heat networks, that move us away from heating our homes and businesses with carbon-emitting fossil fuels.

I’m delighted to see that, through the Green Heat Network Fund, ground-breaking projects will be developed at pace to the benefit of communities, moving us away from soaring energy bills and delivering cheaper, greener energy.

Ken Hunnisett, Programme Director for Triple Point Heat Networks Investment Management, delivery partner for the GHNF and HNIP, said:

It will be such a pleasure to work with the teams in Hull and Peterborough to deliver these fantastic, real-world, clean energy infrastructure projects that will generate local jobs and provide heat to local communities, all during the life of the Green Heat Network Fund.

Such has been the pace at which the new fund has launched that we are still announcing the late-stage successes of its predecessor, the Heat Network Investment Project. The new network at the heart of the redeveloped Galleries Shopping Centre in Wigan will be delivering low carbon heat to retail, leisure, and residential premises within the next 3 years.

In a further boost to future investment in low carbon heat networks, councils will now be offered streamlined access to the UK Infrastructure Bank’s £4 billion local authority lending product as part of the GHNF application process.

John Flint, CEO of UK Infrastructure Bank, said:

With rising energy bills, the need for low cost, low carbon heating systems is clear. Heat networks provide an innovative and proven solution which can help tackle the net zero and local growth challenge. Helping local authorities unlock access to finance for these projects will be crucial.

The Bank is well placed to play a significant role in supporting the development of heat networks and we are pleased to be taking the next step through our new partnership with BEIS in fulfilment of this ambition.

The 3 projects receiving funding are as follows:

• Peterborough Integrated Renewables Infrastructure will receive £14.406 million, through the GHNF, for a scheme that will use the burning of non-recycled household waste to generate electricity and heating
• in Hull, £12.957 million has been awarded through the GHNF towards a heat network that will reduce carbon emissions by more than 2,000 tonnes per year, delivering an additional 22GWH of electricity to 46 public and private sector customers
• Wigan Council has secured £2.655 million from the Heat Networks Investment Project to develop a ground source heat pump system, which will provide heating and hot water to a new £190 million redevelopment project in the town centre

The press release issued by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on 19 December 2022.

The provisional local government finance settlement has confirmed an almost £60 billion package for councils in England for the next financial year.

The Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove has today (19 December 2022) confirmed an almost £60 billion package for councils in England for the next financial year to ensure that councils can continue to deliver vital frontline services.

The settlement means councils across England will benefit from an additional £5 billion – a 9% increase on last year’s settlement – as the government continues to stand behind councils and public services in the face of financial pressures.

The agreement for next year includes a one-off Funding Guarantee that ensures every council in England will see at least a 3% increase in core spending power before any local decisions around council tax are taken. Alongside this, government is today confirming a new £100 million scheme for councils to protect the most vulnerable households from council tax rises – delivering on the manifesto commitment to protect local taxpayers from excessive increases.

Social care is being prioritised too, with the government providing £2 billion in additional grant funding for adult and children’s social care for 2023/24. There is also £300 million for NHS England to help boost capacity by easing patient discharge.

After listening to councils, the government has offered greater certainty up to 2024/25, outlining spending over the next 2 years, which will allow town halls to plan ahead with confidence.

Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove said:

Local government plays an absolutely vital role in helping us to level up, support the most vulnerable, and deliver key services that people rely on every single day.

We recognise the pressures councils are facing right now and this spending boost will provide the support and funding local authorities need to continue delivering first rate public services.

The provisional finance settlement includes:

• A generous total funding package for councils. Almost £60 billion for the next financial year – marking an increase of 9% on 2022-23 – will enable councils to plan ahead with more certainty and continue to deliver key services for residents.
• More funding to areas that need it most. The most relatively deprived areas of England will receive 17% more per household through this year’s settlement.
• A real-terms funding boost across England. Taken together, the local government finance settlements for 2022/23 and 2023/24 show a real terms increase in the funding available to local government in England.
• Support for all tiers of local government. Not only are we providing around £2 billion of additional grant funding for social care, we are also introducing a one-off funding guarantee. This will ensure that every council sees at least a 3% increase in core spending power next year before any local decisions to increase council tax rates.
• Help for the most vulnerable in society. We are also today announcing £100 million of additional funding for local authorities to support the most vulnerable households in England. This funding will allow councils to deliver additional support to the 3.8 million households already receiving council tax support, whilst also providing councils with the resources and flexibility to determine the local approaches to support other vulnerable households in their area. This funding supports the government’s council tax referendum package, which strikes a fair balance to ensure taxpayers are not over-burdened at a time of significant pressure on the public finances.

The provisional settlement consultation will be open for 4 weeks, closing on 16 January 2023.

The government will provide confirmation of the final local government finance settlement in the New Year.

The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 19 December 2022.

The Business Secretary Grant Shapps has appointed Sarah Cardell as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Ms Cardell has held the position of Interim CEO since July 2022 following the departure of Andrea Coscelli.

The CMA is the UK’s independent competition authority responsible for carrying out investigations into mergers, markets and the regulated industries and enforcing competition and consumer law. Its objective is to make markets work well for consumers, businesses and the economy.

Cardell was previously General Counsel at the CMA with executive leadership responsibility for the CMA’s Legal Service, Policy and International, and Digital Markets Unit functions.

She has over 20 years of experience of competition and consumer enforcement in the private and public sector, including as a Partner in the Competition Group at Slaughter and May, where she advised across a wide range of EU and UK merger and antitrust cases.

Business Secretary Grant Shapps said:

Having served at the CMA for over 9 years – most recently as Interim CEO – Sarah’s expertise in competition, regulation and digital markets is unrivalled and she will help to ensure the regulator continues making competition work for consumers and businesses. I look forward to working with her closely.

Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive Officer of the Competition and Markets Authority, said:

It’s an exciting time to be appointed as the CMA’s permanent CEO and I can’t wait to start delivering on the new strategy that we set out last week. We have set out our immediate priorities alongside medium-term ambitions, focusing on the things that are affecting people the most, from the rising cost-of-living to climate change.

The CMA’s work is vital, particularly as we take on more responsibilities. My full focus will be on delivering positive outcomes for people, businesses and the UK economy, supported by our dedicated and talented teams.

Marcus Bokkerink, Competition and Markets Authority Chairman, said:

I’ve been so impressed by Sarah’s steady leadership in the short time we’ve worked together and this appointment is thoroughly deserved. Sarah has played a central role in shaping the new CMA strategy so there is nobody better placed to deliver on that strategy and drive ever more impactful outcomes for people, businesses and the UK economy.

There are certainly challenges ahead but I have absolute confidence that we’ll tackle them head on to ensure that markets are as competitive as possible, and people get a fair deal.

The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 19 December 2022.

The press release issued by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 19 December 2022.

Households in Northern Ireland will receive support with their energy bills this winter as the government confirms a single payment of £600 will start in January 2023, ensuring the full benefit of the scheme is felt as soon as possible.

The support will combine £400 from the government’s Energy Bills Support Scheme Northern Ireland (EBSS NI) with £200 under the Alternative Fuel Payment (AFP) scheme announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement.

The government has today confirmed it will fund Northern Ireland electricity companies for these vital payments with direct debit customers receiving the payment totalling £600 automatically into their bank account. Other customers will be sent a voucher to redeem the £600 payment, with further details of how they will work and what ID will be required set out shortly.

The NI scheme differs from EBSS in Great Britain to account for the particular and complex nature of the NI energy market and the delays caused by the lack of the NI Executive. Recognising the urgent need for this support, NI consumers will benefit from a single, one-off £600 payment, which means that they will receive the full amount before households in Great Britain. Payments will start in January.

Although energy is normally a matter for the Northern Ireland Executive, the government has had to step in and work at pace with Northern Ireland stakeholders to overcome the complexities of the Northern Ireland energy market to deliver support for households following the failure of the Northern Ireland political parties to find a way forward.

Business and Energy Secretary Grant Shapps said:

We want households in Northern Ireland to be able to keep warm this winter and reduce the worry about the consequences of turning up the thermostat. Today’s announcement provides this reassurance, and comes in addition to the Energy Price Guarantee, which has been subsidising NI energy bills since November.

Northern Ireland energy users will be the first in the UK to receive the complete payment package offered through our Energy Bills Support Scheme. This, combined with our NI Alternative Fuel Payments, means households will receive a total of £600 from next month.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Heaton-Harris said:

I am acutely aware of the uncertainty and frustration that people across Northern Ireland have felt about their energy bill support. Families can start the new year knowing that they will receive the full support from January.

I am grateful that officials and Ministers and energy suppliers have found a solution, especially given the complexity of NI’s energy market, although I would have liked to have seen Northern Ireland political parties deliver this, as part of a restored Executive.

Today’s announcement comes as the Minister for Energy and Climate writes to Northern Ireland energy suppliers setting out his expectations, which includes urging them to suspend all debt recovery and enforcement activity until the end of January, as well as provide payment holidays until the end of January where customers are struggling to pay their bills.

As well as discounts provided through the EBSS and Alternative Fuel Payments, the government’s Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) has so far saved each household in Northern Ireland using electricity around £65 and a further £75 for those using gas.

Further support in direct payments is being provided to vulnerable households this year, including cost of living payments for pensioners, people receiving disability-related allowances and those on means-tested benefits. The Household Support Fund provides additional assistance for those most in need and £26 billion worth of targeted support will help protect the most vulnerable in the next financial year.

Minister for Energy and Climate, Graham Stuart, said:

This support will be a lifeline for households across Northern Ireland. It will add to our existing support, giving people the peace of mind they need to keep their heating on and ward off what has been a biting winter so far.

We’ve worked tirelessly to support the people of Northern Ireland with rising energy costs and this is another step in our comprehensive response to shield the public from the impacts of global strains on the energy market.