A brief summary of current government consultations of potential interest to RSN members. This is not intended as an exhaustive list of all relevant consultations.

- Download a printable version of the Government Consultations here

Future of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund – Dept for Energy Security & Net Zero

The Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (IETF) Phase 3 will support businesses with high energy use to:

• cut their bills and emissions through increased energy efficiency
• reduce their emissions by decarbonising industrial processes

This consultation seeks views to help government finalise the design of Phase 3 of the fund, which will run until 2028. It outlines proposals for:

• who will be eligible to apply
• which technologies we will support
• providing support for feasibility / engineering studies
• different types of funding support
• the delivery of the fund

Government are also seeking views on the long-term role of government support post 2025 to help inform the development of future industrial policies.

This consultation closes on 21 July 2023.

Future of the Industrial Energy Transformation Fund - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Protecting Hedgerows in England – Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Government want to know how they can best protect hedgerows through effective, proportionate regulation as we phase out farm subsidies and cross compliance rules.

For the good of the hedgerow and the wildlife it supports, farmers currently must:

• maintain a buffer strip along their hedgerows
• not remove important hedgerows
• not cut or trim hedgerows during bird nesting and rearing season

Government is seeking views on the best way to maintain and improve existing protections, as well as how they enforce them.

This consultation closes on 20 September 2023.

Protecting hedgerows in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Developing local partnerships for onshore wind in England – Dept for Energy Security & Net Zero

In the British Energy Security Strategy, the government committed to develop local partnerships for onshore wind in England, enabling supportive communities who wish to host new onshore wind infrastructure to directly benefit from doing so.

This consultation is seeking views on:

• improving the way developers and communities engage when an onshore wind site is proposed in a local area
• whether improvements can be made to the system of community benefits, so that communities directly benefit from cheap, clean, secure power

Government welcome responses from anyone with an interest in the policy area, but the consultation will be of particular interest to:

• those considering the development of new onshore wind in England
• English planning authorities and representative planning bodies
• electricity traders and suppliers
• consumer, community and environmental groups with an interest in the renewable electricity sector

This consultation closes on 7 July 2023.

Developing local partnerships for onshore wind in England - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Strategy and Policy Statement for energy policy in Great Britain – Dept for Energy Security & Net Zero

The government is seeking views on its proposed Strategy and Policy Statement for energy policy in Great Britain.

The Strategy and Policy Statement is developed in accordance with the Energy Act 2013 and sets out the government’s strategic priorities and other main considerations of its energy policy; the policy outcomes to be achieved as a result of the implementation of that policy; and the roles and responsibilities of those who are involved in implementation of that policy.

Ofgem (the independent energy regulator in Great Britain), and the Future System Operator, once established, will be required to have regard to the strategic priorities in the Strategy and Policy Statement when carrying out their functions. They must also carry out their respective regulatory functions in the manner which the Secretary of State or the Authority (as the case may be) considers is best calculated to further the delivery of the policy outcomes.

This consultation closes on 2 August 2023.

Strategy and Policy Statement for energy policy in Great Britain - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Business Rates Improvement Relief: Draft regulations – Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities

This consultation focuses on draft regulations to implement the government’s Business Rates Improvement Relief Scheme.

Government state: “Improvement Relief will support businesses wishing to invest in their property. It will ensure that no ratepayer will face higher business rates bills for 12 months as a result of qualifying improvements to a property they occupy. The Non-Domestic Rating Bill currently before Parliament contains powers to allow for the Improvement Relief Scheme.

This consultation seeks views on the draft regulations the government proposes to make under the powers in that Bill.”

This consultation closes on 28 August 2023.

Business Rates Improvement Relief: Draft regulations - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Shaping the future of England's strategic roads – Dept for Transport

Government is consulting on the set of proposals made in National Highways’ Initial Report. The report outlines National Highways’:

• view on the current state of the strategic road network (SRN)
• potential future needs
• proposed priorities for the next road period (RP3), covering the financial years 2025-26 to 2029-30

This consultation closes on 13 July 2023.

Shaping the future of England's strategic roads - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Retained EU employment law reforms – Dept for Business & Trade

This consultation sets out proposals for key areas of retained EU employment law that the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is responsible for.

The consultation seeks views on 3 areas of retained EU employment law which the department state could benefit from reform:

• record keeping requirements under the working time regulations
• simplifying annual leave and holiday pay calculations in the working time regulations
• consultation requirements under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) regulations (TUPE)

This consultation closes on 7 July 2023.

Retained EU employment law reforms - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)