HARLOW MP Chris Vince rose on the floor of the House of Commons to discuss energy bills for Harlow companies.

Mr Vince said: “Last weekend, I had the pleasure of visiting the Advanced Aquarium Consultancy in my Constituency of Harlow, where they breed, grow and sell coral. I am not going to make any coral jokes, which will be a reef to everybody.

What is unique about Advanced Aquarium Consultancy is the amount of energy it needs to use. What are the Government doing to support such businesses to bring down energy costs?

Chris Bryant Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade) replied:

“I was told that my hon. Friend was going to ask a question about choral farms; I was wondering how one farmed tenors, altos and contraltos. He makes a very fair point.

“As the Under-Secretary of State for Business and Trade, my hon. Friend Chris McDonald, said earlier, there is a whole series of industries for which the cost of energy is a significant part of the problems they face.

“That is precisely the kind of work that we are engaged in as a Department and as a whole Government, and why it is so important that my hon. Friend is in two Departments and therefore able to bridge these issue”.