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Written question asked by Gareth Snell (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 18 May 2026. It was answered by Chris Bryant (Labour) on Friday, 22 May 2026 on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade.


Business: Energy

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 we transition away from fossil fuels.

We also monitor the utilisation rate for UK exporters. Data for 2026 is only available to February, showing the utilisation rate for UK exports to the EU was around 82%. This rate has remained consistent since the 2025 period. We therefore cannot make an accurate assessment of any changes since the outbreak of war.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
165
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Business Energy Prices Trade agreements UK trade with EU
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk