The Real Bread Campaign has said the government’s response to its call for business support is “another slap in the face” as prime minister Rishi Sunak remains silent.

The Campaign which wrote to Sunak and business secretary Grant Schapp’s predecessors on 21 September, calling for support for small bakery business oweners, received a response on 29 December from the BEIS Correspondence Unit.

According to the Read Bread Campaign, the reply outlined the Energy Bill Relief Scheme that had been announced after the letter has been sent and failed to address any other calls.

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The response said: “The Government is currently carrying out a review to consider how to support businesses with energy bills after April 2023. Any support for businesses [will] be targeted to those most affected by high energy prices.”

Speaking of the government reply, Real Bread Cmpaign coordinator Chris Young said: “Well, happy New Year. There are around 2,500 small bakeries in the UK. Each plays a valuable role in its community, not least by supporting skilled, meaningful jobs and keeping money circulating in the local economy.

“After waiting over three months for further assurance, this delegated reply feels like another slap in the face for small bakery owners.”

Following up, Young has asked BEIS when small bakery owners will receive details of what will happen after April and for answers to any outstanding points of the original letter.