Graham Stuart

We are progressing the design of the business models and the first allocation round at pace. We will award the first contracts for the Hydrogen Transport Business Model and Hydrogen Storage Business Model through the Regional Hydrogen Network competition.

Further clarity on publication timings will be provided in due course.

Hydrogen has the potential to support decarbonisation and economic growth across the UK. The Government recognises the Humber as one of several regions that could supply, as well as benefit from, low‑carbon hydrogen production.

As part of the Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 (HAR2), three projects in the Humber area were shortlisted in April 2025, specifically Aldborough Hydrogen Pathfinder, Humber H2ub, and Singleton Birch Kilns. If successful, these projects will produce low-carbon hydrogen which will power gas turbines and help to decarbonise an oil refinery and lime kiln in the Humber area, as well as generate low carbon power.

The Humber is the UK’s largest industrial cluster and is home to a number of hydrogen and industrial decarbonisation projects, which aim to supply low-carbon hydrogen to local industrial users, supporting decarbonisation, skilled job creation and regional economic growth across the Humber region. Proposals for hydrogen infrastructure in the Humber will be able to participate in the proposed Regional Hydrogen Network when launched.

Three projects in the Humber area were shortlisted in Hydrogen Allocation Round 2. If successful, these projects will produce low-carbon hydrogen to power gas turbines and help decarbonise oil refineries and lime kilns in the Humber area.

In the early hydrogen economy, we expect that most hydrogen demand will be located within our existing industrial clusters. Government is therefore prioritising the development of regional network infrastructure. Government continues to assess the economic and system benefits that could be presented by a core hydrogen network. However, determining the determining the needs case for inter-regional networks, as well as the location, scale and timing for any such networks requires further evidence.

Officials are progressing the design of both the business models and the Regional Hydrogen Network competition at pace. Criteria are being developed to select the most strategically beneficial location for the first regional hydrogen network. As part of this, we expect to assess deliverability of the transport and storage projects involved, value for money, potential contribution to decarbonisation of key industrial and power sectors, and wider economic benefits such as contribution to green job creation and economic growth.

The Net Zero Hydrogen Fund was designed to bring forward the first UK low carbon hydrogen production projects, and was not intended to support other parts of the hydrogen value chain such as hydrogen carriers. It made its final funding allocations in 2023.

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, are responsible for agreeing the funding and investment allowances for the gas transmission network and gas distribution network. Final decisions regarding the next price control period (RIIO3 – which covers April 2026 - April 2031) will be confirmed by Ofgem before the end of the year.

Through this process, Ofgem has a statutory responsibility to attract investment and maintain security of supply while incentivising efficiency and protecting consumers from excessive costs.

Ofgem advised in their draft determinations for RIIO-3 that funding for projects supporting rising electricity demand, including those driven by AI and data centres, will be considered where appropriate evidence is submitted, and will be confirmed in their final determinations.

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, are responsible for agreeing the funding and investment allowances for the gas transmission network and gas distribution network. Final decisions regarding the next price control period (RIIO3 – which covers April 2026 - April 2031) will be confirmed by Ofgem before the end of the year.

Through this process, Ofgem has a statutory responsibility to attract investment and maintain security of supply while incentivising efficiency and protecting consumers from excessive costs.

The Department will continue engaging with Ofgem to ensure RIIO-3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security through this period. DESNZ launched an Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, as a key forum to discuss risks and standards.

Funding for National Gas Transmission is set by Ofgem’s RIIO (Revenue = Incentives + Innovation + Outputs) framework for each five-year regulatory period. Both the current RIIO-2 framework (covering the 2021-2026 regulatory period) and the draft RIIO-3 framework (which will cover 2026-2030) include a Cyber Resilience UIOLI (‘Use it or lose it’) allowance, providing flexible funding capped at up to 20% of total expenditure for network companies to improve cyber resilience.

While arrangements for RIIO-3 are still being finalised, the framework is expected to include a re-opener enabling National Gas Transmission to request changes to cyber resilience funding during the 2026-2030 price control period.

Ofgem, as the independent regulator, are responsible for agreeing the funding and investment allowances for the gas transmission network and gas distribution network. Final decisions regarding the next price control period (RIIO3 – which covers April 2026 - April 2031) will be confirmed by Ofgem before the end of the year.

Through this process, Ofgem has a statutory responsibility to attract investment and maintain security of supply while incentivising efficiency and protecting consumers from excessive costs.

The Department will continue engaging with Ofgem to ensure RIIO-3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security through this period. DESNZ launched an Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, as a key forum to discuss risks and standards.

DESNZ works closely with Ofgem through the Energy Cyber Quad – a strategic partnership comprising DESNZ, Ofgem, the National Energy System Operator and the National Cyber Security Centre. The partnership focuses on strengthening cyber resilience across the energy system, ensuring a coordinated responses to evolving threats.

DESNZ recently launched a new Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, which will be a key forum going forward to discuss threats.

DESNZ is also joint Competent Authority with Ofgem under the Network and Information Systems Regulations, driving cyber resilience standards for our most critical operators.

DESNZ works closely with the energy sector to maintain energy security and ensure industry has the tools at their disposal to support security of supply.

As the risk landscape continues to evolve, ensuring high standards of infrastructure resilience and security across the energy sector is a key priority for the Department and Ofgem.

The Department will continue engaging with the regulator to ensure RIIO-GT3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security and resilience through the price control period.

For example, DESNZ recently launched an Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, which will be a key forum to discuss risks and standards.

DESNZ works closely with the energy sector to maintain energy security and ensure industry has the tools at their disposal to support security of supply.

As the risk landscape continues to evolve, ensuring high standards of infrastructure resilience and security across the energy sector is a key priority for the Department and Ofgem.

The Department will continue engaging with the regulator to ensure RIIO-GT3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security and resilience through the price control period.

For example, DESNZ recently launched an Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, which will be a key forum to discuss risks and standards.

DESNZ works closely with the energy sector to maintain energy security and ensure industry has the tools at their disposal to support security of supply.

As the risk landscape continues to evolve, ensuring high standards of infrastructure resilience and security across the energy sector is a key priority for the Department and Ofgem.

The Department will continue engaging with the regulator to ensure RIIO-GT3 delivers the investment needed to maintain energy security and resilience through the price control period.

For example, DESNZ recently launched an Energy Security and Resilience Taskforce with CEOs of critical operators, with Ofgem in attendance, which will be a key forum to discuss risks and standards.

The Government is aware that the expiration of Renewables Obligation accreditation beyond 2027 may affect the commercial viability of generators from a range of technologies, including waste wood biomass generators below the 100 MW threshold.

We are continuing to assess the situation to understand the impact of the end of Renewables Obligation support on security of supply, clean power 2030 and environment.

No decisions have been made on support for waste wood biomass sites beyond 2027.

The Government recognises the need for strong, home-grown clean energy supply chains to support sustainable jobs and secure growth as we decarbonise our economy.

As part of the Industrial Strategy, the Government is developing plans, aligned with the multi-year Spending Review, for each of the key growth sectors, which include Clean Energy technologies.

The historic investment we recently announced in Carbon Capture and Storage in the North-West and North-East is just the start, representing a vote of confidence in this technology and burgeoning industry. To be ultimately successful, delivering on our climate commitments and protecting jobs, we need to deliver across all four corners of the UK. We have been engaging with the Track-1 and Track-2 clusters, to understand their deployment and expansion plans. We recognise that industry will be hoping for clarity as soon as possible on next steps, and we will have more to say on future projects in the coming months.

Given the large number of operational wind turbines within the UK, the Government does not hold this information centrally. Instead, this will be held by the relevant local planning authority.

Given the large number of operational wind turbines within the UK, the Government does not hold this information centrally. Instead, this will be held by the relevant local planning authority.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

The structure of the high needs national funding formula (NFF) is largely unchanged for the 2025/26 financial year, as the government takes the time needed to consider what changes are necessary. It is important both to make sure that we establish an equitable education funding system that directs funding to where it is needed, including to reflect any substantive differences in the costs of SEND provision in rural areas, and to support the government’s SEND reforms.

As part of our review of the NFF we are considering the previous government’s decisions on the element based on local authorities’ spending levels in 2017/18, which amounts to about 25% of the 2025/26 NFF quantum. Our plans for this historic spend factor, as for the NFF as a whole, and for any consultations on changes to the NFF, will be announced in due course.

This government’s ambition is that all children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) receive the right support to succeed in their education and as they move into adult life.

The structure of the high needs national funding formula (NFF) is largely unchanged for the 2025/26 financial year, as the government takes the time needed to consider what changes are necessary. It is important both to make sure that we establish an equitable education funding system that directs funding to where it is needed, including to reflect any substantive differences in the costs of SEND provision in rural areas, and to support the government’s SEND reforms.

As part of our review of the NFF we are considering the previous government’s decisions on the element based on local authorities’ spending levels in 2017/18, which amounts to about 25% of the 2025/26 NFF quantum. Our plans for this historic spend factor, as for the NFF as a whole, and for any consultations on changes to the NFF, will be announced in due course.

Information on the number of education, health and care plans maintained by local authorities in England is published here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/education-health-and-care-plans.

The number maintained by each local authority as at January 2024 is shown here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/data-tables/permalink/3d449b46-56a8-4404-6cee-08dd48e2728c.

The measures in the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill for statutory Children Not in School registers in every local authority in England, and the accompanying duties on parents and out-of-school education providers to provide information for these registers, will support local authorities in identifying all children not in school in their areas, and ensure that they receive the education they deserve.

The department knows that the new duties created by the Children Not in School measures will create additional burdens for local authorities. Additional funding will therefore be provided to support local authorities to carry out these new duties. As part of our implementation strategy, we will conduct a new burdens assessment to determine the level of funding.

Parents will not be issued with monetary penalties for failure to provide information for Children Not in School registers. The consequence if a parent of an eligible child has failed to provide the required information for a local authority register is that the local authority has the power to commence the School Attendance Order process. Once an order has been issued, it is only if it is subsequently breached and the parent is convicted that this might lead to a monetary penalty not exceeding Level 4 on the standard scale for the parent. The School Attendance Order process is not intended to criminalise parents of home educated children, but to ensure that those children receive a suitable education.

In the autumn 2023 elective home education (EHE) data collection, local authorities recorded that 4.6% of the EHE population were known to them to be children from Gypsy, Roma, Traveller communities, which is in comparison to 0.4% of such children recorded to be in the wider school population. We will continue to engage with these communities as part of the implementation process, to ensure that their specific needs are identified and considered.