Written questions by Glindon.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken to publish the UK Hydrogen Strategy on the delivery timelines of Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 projects, including those in Newcastle upon Tyne East and Wallsend constituency.

Delays to the renewed Hydrogen Strategy, to Hydrogen Allocation Round 2, and to other decisions have been frustrating. We understand that many projects are at critical stages, and that certainty is very important to help businesses plan and manage resourcing and expectations of third parties. We are working hard across government to start the Invite to Offer stage of HAR2 as soon as possible and will be in touch with projects when this commences. We are committed to announcing successful HAR2 projects in 2026.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of progressing Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 ahead of the publication of the forthcoming refreshed UK Hydrogen Strategy.

We are working hard across government to start the Invite to Offer stage of HAR2 as soon as possible and will be in touch with projects when this commences. We are committed to announcing successful HAR2 projects in 2026. Hydrogen Allocation Round 1 (HAR1) projects are now moving through to the final investment decision, construction and operation phases, with the first project expected to begin commercial operations soon. HAR1 is expected to unlock around £400 million of private investment and create over 600 direct jobs.

What assessment he has made of the role low-carbon hydrogen could play in supporting (a) energy security and (b) industrial competitiveness in the next decade.

Hydrogen presents significant growth and economic opportunities across the UK, with the potential to enhance our energy security and provide significant value to the power system by providing a secure supply of home grown electricity during extended periods of low renewables output. Low-carbon hydrogen can strengthen UK industrial competitiveness, attract investment and help safeguard and create skilled jobs, while also accelerating industrial decarbonisation in the long-term. In particular, it will play a focused but important role in decarbonising hard-to-electrify industries, like being used as a feedstock in chemicals and refining, and as a fuel for processes that require high-temperature heat and a direct-flame such as in glass and ceramics manufacturing.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure that hydrogen projects supported by Government policy maximise UK supply chain participation and support domestic manufacturing and jobs.

As set out in the Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan, the Government is committed to building UK manufacturing capacity and jobs. This commitment is demonstrated by the £86.5m proposed package to support ITM Power’s 1GW electrolyser manufacturing expansion in Sheffield, expected to support over 400 jobs, alongside wider support available to UK manufacturers from the public finance institutions, including Great British Energy’s £1 billion Supply Chain Fund. We welcome the hydrogen industry’s voluntary commitment to 50% local content and are exploring how future hydrogen allocation rounds can further support UK supply chains, including through a planned call for evidence.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the time taken for hydrogen policy decisions on levels of private sector investment in UK hydrogen projects being redirected to international competitors.

We have established a world leading funding, policy and regulatory environment for investment into the hydrogen sector. Through funding for policies like the Hydrogen Production Business Model (HPBM), the government continues to support the rollout of hydrogen production to meet demand across sectors requiring hydrogen to decarbonise. We plan to publish a renewed Hydrogen Strategy, alongside a package of other policy documents, as soon as possible this year. We are actively exploring all options for how we can provide the clarity that industry needs to make progress on delivering hydrogen projects in the UK.

Whether he has made an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of the Institute for Public Policy Research report entitled Resilient by design: Building secure clean energy supply chains, published on 16 January 2026.

The government is committed to growing resilient clean energy supply chains and creating good jobs across the UK. Our Clean Energy Industries Sector Plan gives investors the certainty they need to expand UK manufacturing across technologies from wind and nuclear to hydrogen, carbon capture, heat pumps and grid infrastructure. We have capitalised the National Wealth Fund with £27.8 billion, including £5.8 billion for key low‑carbon industries, and Great British Energy has launched a £1 billion supply chain programme, including a £300 million offshore wind fund now open for applications. We will continue to engage with industry, trade unions, and experts to implement the Sector Plan, including the IPPR.

What recent discussions he has had with the Chancellor of the Exchequer on funding for the forthcoming climate action plan.

My Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State has regular discussions with my Rt hon Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on a number of issues.

Pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2024 to Question 6235 on Environment Protection: Industry, if he will take steps with the Office for Clean Energy Jobs to support workers from high carbon sectors move into clean energy jobs as part of the transition to net zero.

Our ambitious Clean Energy Mission will be an incredible opportunity for jobs and investment all across the country, supporting the Growth Mission. The Office for Clean Energy Jobs will support workers from high carbon sectors to move to clean energy jobs by targeting skill interventions to reskill and upskill workers. We will continue to coordinate our approach to ensure a just transition across Government, including working closely with Skills England.

What steps he is taking to help increase the number of supply chain jobs in green industries.

The Government will introduce a new Industrial Strategy to drive long-term sustainable, inclusive and secure growth - through securing investment into crucial sectors of the economy. The Industrial Strategy will be key in identifying levers to ensure that we continue to build strong domestic supply chains for green industries and are able to capitalise on the growth opportunities of the net zero transition. Additionally, we have established the Office for Clean Energy Jobs within DESNZ. The Office is dedicated to ensuring that clean energy jobs are not only abundant but also of high quality, focussing on fair pay, favourable terms, and good working conditions.