I am sure you were all as moved as we were to watch the spectacle of the nation paying its final respects to Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It was a wonderful tribute, engaging so many people across the world.
Parliament has now returned and following the end of the period of mourning, on Wednesday, I had the privilege of swearing allegiance to our new King in Parliament.
The unprecedented rises in energy prices due to Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, has impacted both consumers and businesses of all sizes. As such, on Wednesday, the Government announced the plans to cut energy bills for business, charities, and public sector organisations – helping to protect jobs and livelihoods by supporting them through the winter.
This assistance comes through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, which will provide businesses, charities, schools, and hospitals with a discount on wholesale gas and electricity prices, giving business owners certainty on their bills for the near future. It will apply to fixed contracts agreed on or after 1 April 2022, as well as to deemed, variable and flexible tariffs and contracts.
Moreover, it will apply to energy usage from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023, running for an initial 6-month period for all non-domestic energy users. The savings will be first seen in October bills, which are typically received in November; and, as with the Energy Price Guarantee for households, customers do not need to take any action – it will automatically be applied to bills.
This scheme will be the equivalent of the Energy Price Guarantee that has already been put in place for households. Both schemes will be a huge relief to households, business, charities and public sector organisations.
Alongside these measures, the Government is also taking action to boost the amount of domestic energy we produce providing us with long-term energy security. This is essential.
Yesterday, the Government also announced its New Plan for Patients. The Government is acting to help patients get the care they need. Building on the NHS Winter Plan, the New Plan for Patients will prioritise the services that matter most to people - ambulances, backlogs, care, and doctors and dentists – including improving access to GP practices so that all patients who need one can be seen by a GP within two weeks, and patients with the most urgent needs on the same day. This is just the first step in our work to bolster our NHS and social care services, so that patients always get the care they need.
This plan will include changing funding rules to recruit extra support staff so hardworking GPs can focus on treating patients, freeing up over 1 million appointments per year. I particularly welcome plans to further utilise community pharmacists more to ease pressure on GP practices, freeing up a further 2 million appointments per year. Both areas I have repeatedly pressed for, better utilising an integrated approach. I will continue to work with local GP’s to feed in further improvements and I expect the Minister to visit shortly to see first-hand examples than be extended further for the benefit of patients.
Today, Parliament will be sitting as the Chancellor sets out new plans to boost growth, through cutting taxes and backing businesses. As a Government we will increase growth, protect jobs, and support businesses.
