13 January: The Government has announced that it will scale back support for businesses with their energy costs when the current scheme ends on 31 March.

The new scheme, which will run for 12 months from 1 April, will see businesses receive a discount on wholesale prices rather than costs being capped as is currently the case.

Ros Morgan, chief executive of Heart of London, called the new scheme “bitterly disappointing” in a recent article in the Evening Standard.

Government guidance on how the scheme will work is here.

Consultations

• Home Office: Relaxation of licensing hours for His Majesty the King’s coronation. Deadline: 23 January
• DCMS Committee: Gambling regulation. Deadline: 10 February
• Home Office: Late night levy. Deadline: 3 April

Heart of London will respond to the two Home Office consultations above. If you would like to feed into our responses, please email Matt Panteli on mattp@holba.london. Alternatively, you are of course able to respond individually.