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Manufacturing Industries: Electricity

Asked by James McMurdockIndependentDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 27 April 2026UIN 128175

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to their Department’s press release entitled Government cuts electricity bill for 10,000 manufacturers in boost for UK competitiveness, published on 15 April 2026, how many businesses in (a) Basildon, (b) Thurrock and (c) Essex are expected to benefit from this policy.

Answered by Chris McDonald

The Government cannot provide exact figures for eligible businesses by specific location. Businesses can refer to the Government’s response to the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme consultation on eligibility, published on 16 April, which includes an annex setting out the eligible Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) and Harmonised System (HS) codes. The Department for Business and Trade will also publish an online eligibility checker later this year to enable businesses to self‑assess whether they are likely to be eligible for the scheme.

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