Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when his Department plans to move projects shortlisted under the second Hydrogen Allocation Round to the Invite to Offer stage of negotiations.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are working hard across government to start the Invite to Offer stage of HAR2 as soon as possible and will be in touch with projects when this commences. We understand that many projects are at critical stages, and that certainty is important to support business planning, resource management and engagement with third parties.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure the timely delivery of the Hydrogen Allocation Round 2 scheme by end of 2026.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
We are working hard across government to start the Invite to Offer stage of HAR2 as soon as possible and will be in touch with projects when this commences. We understand that many projects are at critical stages, and that certainty is important to support business planning, resource management and engagement with third parties.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment he has made of the Armed Forces’ assessment that an additional £28 billion in funding is required over the next four years.
Answered by Luke Pollard - Minister of State (Ministry of Defence)
Spending levels on Defence are a matter for the Prime Minister and Chancellor, and we will publish the Defence Investment Plan before the NATO summit. The Defence Investment Plan will be both affordable and deliverable and will deliver the best kit into the hands of our Armed Forces.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has assessed the most popular smartphone applications used by 8 to 14-year-olds after (a) 21:00 and (b) 23:00.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
Protecting children online is a priority for the Secretary of State and this government. That is why we published the ‘Growing up in the Online World’ consultation, accompanied by a National Conversation on 2 March 2026.
The consultation asked for views on children’s use of social media, including questions on screen time and the impact on children’s health. The government published a progress report on the consultation on 15 June, outlining plans to restrict social media services from providing access to under 16s alongside restrictions on functionalities for wider services. Further details will be published in July.
Ofcom also published research in May 2026 of children’s usage of online services after 9 PM, including apps on phones. Ofcom’s research continues to inform the government’s next steps for online safety.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department has made an assessment of the online services where eight to 14-year-olds are most likely to encounter harmful content.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Minister of State (Cabinet Office) (Jointly with the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Technology)
Children’s safety and wellbeing online is the Secretary of State’s top priority. That is why we published the ‘Growing up in the Online World’ consultation, accompanied by a National Conversation on 2 March 2026.
The government published a progress report on the consultation on 15 June, outlining plans to restrict social media services from providing access to under 16s alongside restrictions on functionalities for wider services. Further details will be published in July.
In May 2026, Ofcom published a report on children’s use of online services, including on which platforms children encountered harmful content. Ofcom’s research continues to inform the government’s next steps for online safety.
Where Ofcom has concerns that significant numbers of children are at risk of harm on a service, the government expects them to act. Ofcom has significant enforcement powers at its disposal when a service does not comply with the Act’s requirement and has the government’s full support to use the complete range of these powers.
Asked by: Graham Stuart (Conservative - Beverley and Holderness)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the financial impact on Coastguard Rescue Officers who lose income from their primary employment when responding to emergency callouts; and whether she plans to introduce measures to ensure such volunteers are not financially disadvantaged.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The revised operating model for the Coastguard Rescue Service (CRS) has been agreed following a Court of Appeal ruling, which meant that the current remuneration model could not legally continue.
We deeply value and recognise the significant service Coastguard Rescue Officers provide along our coastline and thank them for their service. The revised model protects choice, flexibility and the ability for people to serve alongside their primary employment. Protecting volunteering preserves and strengthens communities, builds transferable skills, and underpins emergency response; volunteering has been at the heart of search and rescue for generations.
HMCG has 3000 volunteer Coastguard Rescue Officers, all with unique personal circumstances and we recognise that any change will affect individuals differently. Under the revised CRS model Coastguard Rescue Officers will continue to be able to claim expenses. The new Expenses Policy enables volunteers to claim non-taxable reimbursement for reasonable costs including travel, meals, equipment, accommodation, and other authorised expenses incurred in connection with their duties.