The prospect of a radical shake-up of Whitehall is likely to alarm business, in spite of the fact employers have little loyalty to the ministry that nominally exists to serve them – the largely unloved Department of Trade and Industry.

Employers’ concern about moving energy from the DTI to the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs will focus on proposals for a single secretary of state – most likely David Miliband, the environment secretary – having to reconcile the frequently conflicting business and green priorities over energy.