Petition Cap energy price increases for small businesses.

On Monday 17 October, MPs approved a Bill which will allow the Government to provide support to households and businesses with their energy costs.

• Watch the debate
• Read a transcript of the debate (Second Reading and Committee Stage)
• Read a transcript of the debate (Report Stage and Third Reading)

The Bill now goes to the House of Lords, which must also approve it before it becomes law.

About the Energy Prices Bill

The Energy Prices Bill will give the Government the power to implement its Energy Price Guarantee scheme for domestic consumers, and support for businesses and other non-domestic properties.

Households in the UK are due to receive £400 of support under the Energy Bill Support Scheme. The Energy Prices Bill includes a requirement that landlords and other property managers (such as residential park home owners) have to pass the financial support they receive on behalf of their residents and tenants under this Scheme on to them.

The Energy Prices Bill also gives the Government powers to introduce its Energy Price Guarantee, which will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas so that a typical household in Great Britain pays, on average, around £2,500 a year on their energy bill, from 1 October 2022.

The Bill also includes powers to enable the Government to introduce its Energy Bill Relief Scheme, under which the Government will provide financial assistance on energy bills for all eligible non-domestic customers, including businesses, charities and public sector organisations.

• Read the Government's press release for more information about the Bill
• Read the House of Commons Library analysis of the Bill
• Keep up to date with the Bill's progress and read a copy of the Bill

What happens next?

The Bill passed all stages of consideration in the House of Commons on 17 October, and is now awaiting a date for its introduction in the House of Lords.

• Follow the Bill's progress
• Find out more about the stages a Bill must go through in order to become law here

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The MPs on the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee have been investigating energy pricing and the energy market, including Government support to help people with their energy bills.

Report on energy pricing and the energy market

In July the Committee published a report on energy pricing and the energy market. In their report, MPs called on the Government to help the most exposed households by updating its energy bills support. They also called on the Government to consider a social tariff for the most vulnerable customers.

• Read the Committee's report on energy pricing and the energy market
• Read a press release about the report

Evidence session on the cost of living crisis

Last month the Committee questioned business representatives, unions and consumer groups about climbing energy bills, inflation, interest rates, food and material costs, the impact these trends are having, and how they expect the crisis to develop.

• Find out more about the Committee's evidence session on the cost of living crisis
• Read a transcript of the evidence session

Select Committee podcast

The Chair of the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee, Darren Jones MP, is hosting the current series of the Committee Corridor podcast. This is a fortnightly podcast that brings together Members of Parliament from the different select committees in the House of Commons to interview experts and discuss the most pressing political, social and economic matters facing the UK today.

The current series is focusing on the cost of living, and in the first episode Darren spoke to the Chief Executive of the Resolution Foundation, and the MPs who Chair the Women and Equalities and Work and Pensions Committee.

• Find out more about the Committee Corridor podcast, including how to subscribe

What is the Home Affairs Committee?

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee is a cross-party group of backbench MPs that looks into the work of the Home Office and its associated public bodies.

• Find out more about the Committee
• Follow the Committee on Twitter for updates on its work.

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee is a select committee. Find out how select committees work.

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On Wednesday 7 December, Catherine West MP will lead a debate in Parliament entitled ‘Employment and the high street.’

To inform the debate, she would like to hear from small business owners, customers and others:

• How would you describe your local high street and any issues it might be facing?
• What kind of support would be helpful for small business owners?
• What should be done to keep high streets vibrant and attract customers?

She may quote your contribution directly during her debate.

Find out more and share your ideas with her by midday on Tuesday 6 December: Employment and the high street

Videos of the debate, the transcript of what was said in it, and other relevant material will be available on this webpage shortly after the debate.

What are Westminster Hall debates?

Westminster Hall is the second Chamber of the House of Commons.

Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local or national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Any MP can take part in a Westminster Hall debate.

Debates in Westminster Hall take place on ‘general debate' motions expressed in neutral terms. These motions are worded ‘That this House has considered [a specific matter]'.

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