Question to the Scotland Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Transport on ensuring that new hydrogen fuel cell electric buses are built in (a) Scotland and (b) other parts of the UK.

I have regular discussions with the Secretary of State for Transport on a number of different policy issues. The Department for Transport (DfT) is committed to decarbonising the transport network, considering the role that all technologies can play.

As was highlighted in the Prime Minister’s speech to Parliament on 11 February 2020 announcing the record-breaking investment of £5 billion new investment in buses and bicycles: “There will be more than 4,000 brand-new buses on the roads - zero carbon British built buses - on the roads of places Ashfield, Barnstaple, Southampton, Manchester and many more towns and cities besides”. DfT are currently considering the UK Government’s approach to delivering this.

The UK Government have acted early to support a number of world-leading hydrogen demonstration projects, and are continuing to explore and consider the potential role of hydrogen in the UK. I understand the Scottish Government are also considering this as part of their Scottish Energy Strategy.