Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has had discussions with industry stakeholders on opportunities to grow UK-based manufacturing of hydrogen and fuel cell equipment by 2030.

Answered by Chris McDonald - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government recognises the need for strong, home-grown clean energy supply chains to support good jobs and support sustainable economic growth as we accelerate to net zero. Our Clean Industries Sector Plan sets out a strong offer for domestic manufacturing such as the £1bn Great British Energy supply chain fund included in our comprehensive Public Finance Institution offer, as well as considering expanding the Clean Industry Bonus to hydrogen.

My officials in the UK and overseas are working closely with UK-based companies to highlight and develop opportunities across the hydrogen value chain both in the UK and abroad.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what plans his Department has to support exports of UK-manufactured hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to international markets.

Answered by Chris Bryant - Minister of State (Department for Business and Trade)

Hydrogen and fuel cell technologies constitute a frontier Industrial Strategy sector, so the government has committed targeted support to boost exports by showcasing UK capabilities through our global network, increasing access to international supply chains, and expanding clean energy sector agreements. UK Export Finance can offer a range of support for overseas sales, and as set out in the new Trade Strategy, aims to deliver £10bn in clean growth financing by 2029. Additionally, DRIVE35 will provide £2.5bn for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing including fuel cells, and the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme offers grants to UK fuel cell manufacturers investing in UK-based research and development.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether she has made an assessment of the potential merits of fiscal incentives to encourage capital investment in (a) hydrogen and (b) fuel cell manufacturing facilities.

Answered by Dan Tomlinson - Exchequer Secretary (HM Treasury)

The Chancellor of the Exchequer is supporting a range of incentives to encourage capital investment in hydrogen. The Government has awarded contracts to 11 projects through the first hydrogen allocation round and £500mn was allocated for the development of the first hydrogen transport and storage network through the spending review.

At Spring Statement 2025, the government committed to removing Climate Change Levy costs from electricity used in electrolysis to produce hydrogen. This will lower costs and support the growth of low carbon hydrogen production, which will play an important role in decarbonising hard-to-electrify industrial sectors.

UK Export Finance also aims to deliver £10bn in clean growth financing by 2029; DRIVE35, the government’s programme of capital and R&D funding for the automotive industry, will provide £2.5bn for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing, including fuel cells; and the Aerospace Technology Institute Programme offers grants to UK fuel cell manufacturers investing in UK-based research and development.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what research and innovation funding streams are available to support companies developing hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in the UK.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

Innovate UK supports businesses innovating in hydrogen and fuel cells through several initiatives, including DRIVE35, a £2.5 billion programme supporting businesses conducting R&D in manufacturing zero emission vehicles. The Department for Transport delivers R&D funding to develop clean maritime technologies including hydrogen and fuel cell technologies through its UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE). Other funding streams include Innovation Loans and Investor Partnerships, which can help commercialise highly innovative late-stage R&D projects. Information on all Innovate UK competitions can be found at https://apply-for-innovation-funding.service.gov.uk/competition/search.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what training his Department provides to (a) Universal Credit agents and (b) Work Coaches on communicating with claimants who have learning disabilities or mental health conditions when responding to messages via (i) online journals and (ii) telephone.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Universal Credit agents and Work Coaches receive a range of training to equip them to support customers with health conditions, learning disabilities, and additional or complex needs throughout their role.

Key training includes:

• Mandatory mental health learning – 2-day course for all customer contact roles, including a focus on communication methods.
• Induction/onboarding training – New starters at DWP receive training to support customers with additional needs and mental health conditions as part of their technical learning journey.
• Refresher learning - (optional, on-demand) point of need learning to support customers with learning disabilities and mental health conditions.
• Training is available at points of need to support continuous development throughout their role.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many hours of (a) initial and (b) refresher training Universal Credit agents receive on supporting claimants with learning disabilities or mental health conditions; and at what intervals refresher training is mandated.

Answered by Andrew Western - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Work and Pensions)

Universal Credit agents and Work Coaches receive a range of training to equip them to support customers with health conditions, learning disabilities, and additional or complex needs throughout their role.

Key training includes:

• Mandatory mental health learning – 2-day course for all customer contact roles, including a focus on communication methods.
• Induction/onboarding training – New starters at DWP receive training to support customers with additional needs and mental health conditions as part of their technical learning journey.
• Refresher learning - (optional, on-demand) point of need learning to support customers with learning disabilities and mental health conditions.
• Training is available at points of need to support continuous development throughout their role.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when the Government plans to respond to feedback provided in its consultation on NHS dentistry contract: quality and payment reform, published 8 July 2025.

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

The Government is considering the outcomes of the consultation and will publish a response in due course.

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 UK-manufactured (a) hydrogen and (b) fuel cell technologies are affected by (i) current and (ii) future (A) hydrogen production and (B) usage schemes.

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

The UK is taking a whole-system approach to developing a hydrogen economy, putting in place the policy and regulatory frameworks needed to support deployment and attract private investment across the full hydrogen value chain.

We are driving demand through our hydrogen production and hydrogen transport and storage business models and supporting manufacturers of hydrogen equipment, including fuel cells, through our comprehensive Public Financial Institution offer, which includes Great British Energy, National Wealth Fund and the British Business Bank. We are also improving the visibility of the UK supply chain through “Meet the Specifier” and “Meet the Buyer” events.

We will publish a UK Hydrogen Strategy later this year which will set out clear priorities for collaboration with industry.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he plans to introduce additional incentives for hydrogen project developers to source (a) equipment and (b) components from UK manufacturers.

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

In the Industrial Strategy, we set out the UK's potential to be a global leader in both hydrogen deployment and supply chains, given the shared skills and infrastructure from the oil and gas sector, existing strengths in innovation, and our supportive policy environment. We have a strong offer for domestic manufacturing including support from our Public Finance Institutions and deployment certainty through Hydrogen Allocation Rounds (HARs). Additionally, we welcome the industry-led voluntary ambition of 50% UK local content for hydrogen across the value chain from 2030.

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