BEIS must make long-term energy policy ‘number one priority’, say businesses
80 per cent of large UK firms believe that the creation of a long-term energy policy should be ‘number one priority’ for the newly-formed Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
The figures, which come from a comprehensive study carried out by consultancy firm Inenco, suggest that Britain’s business world shares a similar sentiment to many opposing MPs with regards to the Government’s scrapping of the longstanding Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) running the risk of ‘downgrading’ UK energy policy.
In fact, 56 per cent of large businesses said that they feared that climate change would become a lower priority under BEIS.
Furthermore, just 42 per cent of those surveyed said that they thought the scrapping of the DECC in favour of BEIS was a ‘positive move’.
Commenting on the findings, David Cockshott, chief commercial officer at Inenco Group, said: “The creation of a Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy should be positive news at a time when billions of pounds are needed in new low carbon infrastructure and when rising costs are impacting business’ bottom lines across the country.
“Businesses are clearly concerned that a new Government with new ministers could delay crucial decisions, from future infrastructure and action on climate change to clarity around future compliance and incentives”.
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