Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, 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.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

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.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, 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.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

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.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, 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.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

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.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, 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.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

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.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, 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.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

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.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what representations she has made to her Israeli counterpart on the demolition of towns and villages in southern Lebanon.

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

I refer the Hon Member to the joint statement on the conflict in Lebanon issued on 14 April by the Foreign Secretary and eighteen of her international counterparts, which can be seen at the link below, as well as the Foreign Secretary's statement on 17 April welcoming the announcement of a ceasefire in Lebanon: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/lebanon-joint-foreign-ministers-statement-14-april-2026.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent progress his Department has made on negotiating the Community Pharmacy Contractual Framework for 2026/27.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In 2025/26, funding for the core community pharmacy contractual framework was increased to £3.1 billion. This represented the largest uplift in funding of any part of the National Health Service at the time, over 19% across 2024/25 and 2025/26.

The Department’s consultation with Community Pharmacy England on any proposed changes to reimbursement and remuneration of pharmacy contractors for 2026/27 began on 25 February. We will provide an update once this consultation has concluded.

Redundancies of skilled rail workers at Balfour Beatty

Ketamine

Industrial relations at Carlisle Support Services

Trade union de-recognition at GB Railfreight

Seafarer pay and conditions at the Royal Fleet Auxiliary

Driver-only trains on East West Rail

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Bob Blackman (Chair); Jonathan Davies; Mr Lee Dillon; Mary Glindon