Martin recently met with representatives from Hydrogen UK, whose members have several significant projects planned for the constituency.
During the meeting, industry leaders expressed serious concerns regarding the ongoing delay in the publication of the Government’s hydrogen strategy. These delays are reportedly incurring substantial costs for the companies involved and pose a risk to future investment, which would be detrimental to the local economy and broader national growth objectives.
Following these discussions, Martin raised the issue in the Commons chamber, seeking an urgent ministerial statement to provide the industry with the necessary certainty to proceed.
You can read Martin’s contribution, and the Minister’s reply, below.
Martin Vickers
Yesterday I held a meeting with representatives from Hydrogen UK, a number of whose members have projects planned for my constituency. They expressed concern about the delay in the publication of the Government’s hydrogen strategy. The delay is costing these companies many thousands of pounds and may lead to them withdrawing investments, which would obviously be damaging for the local economy and the ambitions of the Government’s growth agenda. Will the Leader of the House arrange for an early statement from a Minister to announce the strategy to let us get moving with these projects?
Sir Alan Campbell
The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to raise this matter on behalf of businesses in his constituency, and I understand their uncertainty. We are absolutely committed to building a thriving hydrogen sector in the UK through our strategy, as he points out, but I will draw his concerns to the attention of Ministers. If we have the strategy and the energy, we need to get on with it.
