Lord Leong (Lab)

My Lords, I thank all noble Lords for their valuable contributions to this debate. As I said in my opening speech, the increased relief offered through the network charging compensation scheme will provide critical support for foundation sectors across Great Britain, including steel, chemicals, cement, battery and semiconductor manufacturing, helping ensure delivery of the Government’s modern industrial strategy. These EIIs are located right across the country and provide thousands of well-paid jobs, both directly and in the wider supply chain. The Government intend to carry out a review of the data underpinning the British industry supercharger this year in order to assess how the scheme continues to meet the needs of EIIs and to ensure that support continues to be directed at those sectors most in need of the aid. I will address some of the questions posed by noble Lords but, before I start, I pay tribute to the noble Baroness, Lady McIntosh, for all the work that she has done in National Energy Action, especially the action for warm homes. I acknowledge her expertise in this area. To address the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Sharpe, historic reliance on fossil fuels has left the UK exposed to volatile global energy markets, a vulnerability obviously highlighted by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.