Page 9 - Gi flipbook June/July 2018

London-centric the capital then the result with the rest of the country
because many of BEIS’s
is London-centric policy-
department weakens making which doesn’t partner bodies are based
around the UK.
understand the industrial
When organisations
Greg Clark’s regional and economic needs of such as the Nuclear
other parts of the country.”
Decommissioning Authority
Figures obtained by the
plan, says Reeves Labour MP show BEIS is in and the Oil and Gas
Authority are counted,
the midst of a recruitment
drive to cope with Brexit- four of five BEIS staff are
related issues, such as the located outside London.
BUSINESS SECRETARY Energy and Industrial UK’s decision to quit the However, Reeves also
Greg Clark’s plan to Strategy (BEIS) show that EU nuclear cooperation attacked what she said was
strengthen Britain’s 92 per cent of its 2,984 treaty, Euratom. a disappointing and woeful
regional economy is staff at its headquarters are The department is taking record on gender diversity
being undermined by based in London, reports The on an additional 350 staff at those partner bodies.
his department being Guardian. Aberdeen, the to work on Brexit, who will Only seven of the
too London-centric, an UK’s offshore oil and gas predominantly be based in 36 of BEIS’s partner
influential MP has warned. hub, comes second with a London. organisations have female
The government’s industrial headcount of 92, followed The department denied chief executives, while only
strategy is meant to help by Birmingham with 50 and being too tied to Whitehall four of 47 chairs appointed
rebalance the UK’s economy Cardiff on 47, according and said it was essential to public bodies by the
and build on strengths in to data released to Rachel that officials were able department are women. ■
regions outside the capital, Reeves, Chair of the BEIS to work with other
such as the Midlands, Select Committee. government departments. Rachel Reeves MP
where the automotive Reeves said: “We need “We are not London-
industry is clustered. an industrial strategy that centric but it is important
Theresa May has said works for all parts of the that we provide ministers
the more interventionist country but the government with the highest-quality
approach must ensure miserably fails to take a lead service,” Alex Chisholm, the
“more people in all corners by basing most of its civil Permanent Under-secretary
of the country share in the service jobs in London. of State at BEIS, said in a
benefits of its success”. “When the department letter to Reeves.
However, figures from the leading the strategy has Chisholm argued that the
Department for Business, 90 per cent of its jobs in department was in touch

Energy bill price cap moves closer after MPs’ approval

AN ENERGY BILL price cap clear message to regulator that British families are big energy bills” after the
has moved a step closer Ofgem that it needs to protected as we correct most recent winter.
after legislation seeking implement by the end of an intolerable situation in Conservative ex-minister
to end “abuse” against this year a “robust price which consumers have been John Penrose earlier warned
customers cleared the cap” for the winter, as exposed by the independent a number of his colleagues
House of Commons. reported by Energy Voice. competition authorities as were concerned that
Energy Secretary Greg The proposals will paying £1.4 billion a year energy price cap proposals
Clark said MPs have sent a require Ofgem to protect more than they would in a were “anti-competitive,
consumers by capping competitive market. complicated, bureaucratic
The bill would allow domestic standard variable “That abuse should end.” and inflexible”.
the price cap to remain and default tariffs until The bill enables the He described the
in place until 2023 2020, with Mr Clark temporary price cap to proposed cap as “hideously
telling the Commons: remain in place until 2023 complicated” and said
“The measures will… if conditions for effective it would be out of date
ensure loyalty is no longer market competition are “moments” after it was set.
penalised while ensuring not met. But Mr Penrose withdrew
efficient suppliers can Shadow Energy Secretary his amendment, which had
continue to do business.” Rebecca Long-Bailey said been tabled at report stage.
Mr Clark, speaking as Labour supported the bill The bill received an
the Domestic Gas and at third reading although unopposed third reading
Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill warned government “inaction” and will undergo further
received its third reading, and delays had left “millions scrutiny in the Lords at a
added: “The bill will ensure of people still suffering with later date. ■

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News.indd 4 17/05/2018 13:49