Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Hydrogen Technology: Fiscal Support

Tuesday 1 December 2020 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 1 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Government are supporting hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle market through a 23 million hydrogen for transport programme.
  • Automotive transformation fund confirmed at spending review to help industry transition to low carbon vehicles.
  • West Midlands Rail Executive and local officials have engaged with the Restoring Your Railway fund for the Lichfield to Burton railway line proposal.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Michael Fabricant Con
Economy Energy Business & Trade
Context

The question addresses the lack of support for hydrogen fuel cells and the broader UK hydrogen economy. The MP seeks specific fiscal steps to boost these areas.

Question

What fiscal steps are being taken to support investment in (a) hydrogen fuel cell usage in the automotive industry and (b) the UK's hydrogen economy; and if he will make a statement.

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

The Government are supporting the development of the early fuel cell electric vehicle market through the £23 million hydrogen for transport programme. The spending review confirmed an automotive transformation fund to help industry transition to low-carbon vehicles. At the spending review, the Chancellor also announced £240 million over the next four years to support the aim of 5 GW of low-carbon hydrogen by 2030.

Answered
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Q2 Michael Fabricant Con
Transport
Context

The question concerns the re-establishment of passenger service on a railway line that is currently used only for freight, with hydrogen fuel cells proposed as an energy source. The MP suggests that the levelling up fund would be suitable for this project.

Question

I thank my hon. Friend for her answer. The West Midlands Rail Executive and I are both very keen to re-establish passenger traffic on the Lichfield to Burton railway line, which currently is used just for freight traffic—it would stop, too, at the National Memorial Arboretum. The plan is that the locomotives will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells. Does my hon. Friend not agree with me that the levelling up fund would be ideal for that project?

Answer from Kemi Badenoch

My hon. Friend is, as ever, a great champion for his local area. I understand that Transport for West Midlands, in partnership with Staffordshire Council and the local rail executive, has already engaged with the Restoring Your Railway fund. Regarding the specific proposal he is referencing, the Department for Transport has announced that there will be a further round of bidding for the fund. Other aspects of the proposal might be eligible for support from the £4 billion levelling-up fund; the Government will set out more details on eligibility in due course.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific eligibility criteria and timelines for the levelling up fund were not provided, leaving it uncertain whether this project would be supported by it.

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