Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing temporary restrictions on the (a) public sale and (b) commercial use of helium.

Helium is vital for the UK’s economic growth and security, industrial strategy, and clean energy transition. DBT is working across Government mapping supply chains and assessing risks, mitigations, and potential interventions, conducting detailed analysis including on emerging risks.

Through the 2025 UK Critical Minerals Strategy we will build strong partnerships with key markets to diversify production and processing and strengthen our supply chains, alongside working with key existing producers.

At present, in response to the Middle East situation, the Government’s approach is to work collaboratively with industry, the healthcare sector and international partners to improve supply resilience, encourage efficient use, and support the development of alternative technologies and recovery systems, rather than to introduce blanket restrictions.

We encourage any business experiencing disruption to visit business.gov.uk to access support and guidance.