The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has today (February 7th) been split up by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as he creates a dedicated energy security and net-zero function.
In addition to the new department, the Prime Minister has rolled some of the business-related work of BEIS into a merged Department for Business and Trade and other parts into a new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
The new Department for Energy Security and Net-Zero is being headed up by Grant Shapps, the outgoing Secretary of State at BEIS.
A Government statement said the new department had been tasked with “securing our long-term energy supply, bringing down bills and halving inflation”, and added that “the move recognises the significant impact rising prices have had on households across the country as a result of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine, and the need to secure more energy from domestic nuclear and renewable sources as we seize the opportunities of net zero.”
Mr Sunak has merged parts of the Department for International Trade with parts of BEIS relating to business, creating a new Department for Business and Trade, with Kemi Badenoch installed as the Secretary of State for this new entity. She will also retain her roles as Minister for Women and Equalities and as President of the Board of Trade.
The Government has stated that the change is intended to join-up work on “backing British businesses at home and abroad”.
Other parts of BEIS’s business function and industrial strategy function will be rolled into a new Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Michelle Donelan has been appointed Secretary of State here.