To match an exact phrase, use quotation marks around the search term. eg. "Parliamentary Estate". Use "OR" or "AND" as link words to form more complex queries.


Keep yourself up-to-date with the latest developments by exploring our subscription options to receive notifications direct to your inbox

Written Question
Hydrogen: Wales
Friday 5th February 2021

Asked by: Philip Dunne (Conservative - Ludlow)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for International Trade on a strategy to boost exports of Welsh hydrogen technology.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

The global annual hydrogen market is estimated to potentially be worth over $1 trillion by 2050, and the global hydrogen project pipeline is estimated at $90bn today. The UK Government’s focus is to seize the opportunity to export UK skills, capability and technology into the growing global hydrogen market.

The UK Government is already investing in hydrogen technologies and is an active partner in a range of international initiatives.

The UK Government continues to explore the export opportunities associated with developing a low carbon hydrogen economy and to attract inward investment.

I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for International Trade on increasing Welsh exports.


Written Question
Hydrogen: Wales
Friday 5th February 2021

Asked by: Philip Dunne (Conservative - Ludlow)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether the Government plans to set a target for hydrogen production in Wales.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

The Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution confirms the UK Government’s ambition, working with industry, for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. As we progress towards this ambition, we would hope to see around 1GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2025.

I and my officials continue to work closely with colleagues across government to raise awareness of the interest in Wales in the role of low-carbon hydrogen in the transition to net-zero.


Written Question
Motor Vehicles: Hydrogen
Friday 5th February 2021

Asked by: Philip Dunne (Conservative - Ludlow)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on the role hydrogen passenger vehicles can play in supporting the growth of the Welsh hydrogen economy.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

The UK Government is committed to exploring all options for low carbon hydrogen across freight, buses, trains, maritime, and aviation to ensure that the UK can lead the world in its deployment and use across the economy.

The Department for Transport is working closely with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on a new overarching hydrogen strategy setting out how to deliver all the benefits of a hydrogen economy for the UK, including for transport.

Whilst we expect hydrogen to play a key role in decarbonising transport, it is likely to be most effective in the areas ‘that batteries cannot reach’, where energy density requirements or duty cycles and refuelling times make it the most suitable low carbon energy source.

At this point, progressing the hydrogen economy as a whole in the UK means rapidly expanding our expertise, innovation and infrastructure deployments to create a critical mass and overcome barriers to production and use.

I and my officials continue to work closely with colleagues across government to raise awareness of the interest in Wales in the role of low-carbon hydrogen in the transition to net-zero, including in the transport sector.


Written Question
Hydrogen: Wales
Friday 5th February 2021

Asked by: Philip Dunne (Conservative - Ludlow)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what steps he is taking to grow the hydrogen economy in Wales.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

The Prime Minister’s 10 Point Plan for a Green Industrial Revolution confirms the UK Government’s ambition, working with industry, for 5GW of low carbon hydrogen production capacity by 2030. As we progress towards this ambition, we would hope to see around 1GW of hydrogen production capacity by 2025.

This will be supported by the £240m Net Zero Hydrogen Fund confirmed out to 2025, intended to support both CCUS enabled (blue) hydrogen and electrolytic (green) hydrogen production.

In the first half of this year, the government will publish a Hydrogen Strategy which will set out an action plan for decarbonisation and expansion of hydrogen in the 2020s across the UK.

There are already promising signs of interest and innovation around hydrogen production and utilisation in Wales, which the UK Government is backing.

For example, the Riversimple Clean Mobility Fleet was awarded £1.2m from the UK Government’s Hydrogen Transport Programme to develop fuel cell electric vehicles.

The Milford Haven Energy Kingdom has received a £1m grant from UK Research and Innovation to develop diverse, local seed markets to support the transition to hydrogen and renewables along the Milford Haven Waterway.

The South Wales Industrial Cluster has received funding from the UK Government’s Industrial Decarbonisation Challenge to explore options to transition the region’s industries to net-zero, including by considering the role of low-carbon hydrogen.

I and my officials continue to work closely with colleagues across government to raise awareness of the interest in Wales in the role of low-carbon hydrogen in the transition to net-zero.


Written Question
Hydrogen: Wales
Friday 5th February 2021

Asked by: Philip Dunne (Conservative - Ludlow)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether the Government plans to set a target for the deployment of hydrogen refueling infrastructure in Wales.

Answered by David T C Davies - Secretary of State for Wales

Whilst it is true that battery electric vehicles dominate the current zero emission vehicle market, we recognise the potential of hydrogen as another solution for zero emission transport, particularly for heavier road vehicles.

The fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) and hydrogen refuelling market is in its infancy and government has taken steps to support its growth in the UK.

For example, the Hydrogen for Transport Programme, launched in 2017, set out the next steps to develop the UK hydrogen vehicle market, providing up to £23m of new grant funding to support the growth of refuelling infrastructure alongside the deployment of new vehicles. The programme awarded £1.2m to the Riversimple Clean Mobility Fleet initiative, led by the Welsh company, Riversimple, alongside Monmouthshire County Council.

The Department for Transport’s forthcoming Transport Decarbonisation Plan will discuss the potential role for hydrogen in decarbonising the transport sector, including road transport.


Written Question
Children: Day Care
Tuesday 11th June 2019

Asked by: Philip Dunne (Conservative - Ludlow)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, whether he has taken steps to enable English local authorities to claim back funding for childcare places for children living in England who access free childcare in Wales; and if he will make a statement .

Answered by Alun Cairns

Local authorities have a statutory duty to secure free early education in their area for children who are eligible. Education and the entitlement to free childcare for pre-school children in Wales is devolved to the National Assembly for Wales, and I will be raising this issue with the Welsh Government Minister for Health and Social Services.


Written Question
Children: Day Care
Tuesday 11th June 2019

Asked by: Philip Dunne (Conservative - Ludlow)

Question to the Wales Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what estimate he has made of the number of children living in (a) Wales accessing free childcare entitlement in England and (b) England accessing free childcare entitlement in Wales.

Answered by Alun Cairns

As of January 2018, there were an estimated 495 children resident in Wales accessing free childcare entitlements of up to 15 hours a week in England. The provision of free childcare entitlements in Wales is devolved to the National Assembly for Wales, and as such the UK Government does not hold this information.