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Written question asked by Markus Campbell-Savours (Labour) on Monday, 1 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 3 June 2026. It was answered by Blair McDougall (Labour) on Tuesday, 9 June 2026 on behalf of the Department for Business and Trade.

Small Businesses: Cumbria

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what recent assessment he has made of the impact of rising electricity costs on the financial resilience of small businesses in Cumbria.

Answer

The government recognises that volatile energy prices remain a concern for small businesses in Cumbria and across the country. We are monitoring the impact of international energy markets on businesses and stand ready to respond.

The Chancellor recently announced the government would cut energy bills by up to 25% for over 10,000 manufacturers from April 2027 through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS). BICS will be expanded by 40%, with one-off additional payment in 2027 rolled out to an extra 3,000 businesses, from 7,000 to 10,000 businesses.

Government is also working with Ofgem to reform the non‑domestic energy market, improving transparency and complaint handling.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
5843
Session
2026-27
Subjects
Cumbria Electricity Prices Small businesses
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk