VerbatimParliament, as it happens

British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme: Agriculture and Food

Asked by Samantha NiblettLabourDepartment for Business and TradeTabled Answered 23 April 2026UIN 128340

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of expanding the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme to include (a) farmers and (b) food production.

Answered by Chris McDonald

Eligibility for the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme is informed by the Government’s Industrial Strategy and by the recent consultation on scheme eligibility.

Decisions on eligibility have been taken to drive economic growth in line with the Industrial Strategy, by targeting manufacturing frontier industries within its growth sectors, as well as manufacturing foundational industries that provide important inputs to them, where electricity costs most directly affect international competitiveness.

Farming and food production are therefore not within the scope of the Scheme.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim