Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of whether current Gate 2 electricity connection timelines are compatible with the Government’s objectives for delivering AI Growth Zones at pace.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government fully recognises the impact of connection delays on delivery of its objectives and is working closely with Ofgem, NESO and network companies to develop and deliver a coordinated package of demand-side reforms to release blocked network capacity and accelerate connections for projects that reflect Government’s top strategic priorities, including AI Growth Zones.

Government recently consulted on key elements of this package of reforms and will publish its response in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether electricity connection prioritisation for AI Growth Zones is being considered as part of wider grid reform and connection queue management.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

As announced in the ‘Delivering AI Growth Zones’ publication in November 2025, new measures to prioritise electricity connections for strategic demand projects will be used to support AI Growth Zones.

Government recently consulted on the detail of these measures and will publish its response in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment his Department has made of the level of potential risk that current electricity connection processes could delay the delivery of AI Growth Zones.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Government fully recognises that the process for electricity demand connections requires reform and is working closely with Ofgem, NESO and network companies to develop and deliver a coordinated package of measures to ensure the connections process supports efficient and fair connections for all users, release blocked capacity, and accelerate connections for projects that reflect Government’s top strategic priorities, including AI Growth Zones.

Government recently consulted on key elements of this package of reforms and will publish its response in due course.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Midlands has been considered as a potential location for an AI Growth Zone.

Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Government has launched five AI Growth Zones in industrial heartlands across the country, which will create 15,000 jobs and unlock £28 billion of investment. All areas of the country are being considered for further AI Growth Zones, including the Midlands. The application process to become an AI Growth Zone remains open.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he will publish the outcome of Hydrogen Allocation Round 2.

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 the second Hydrogen Allocation Round (HAR2) as soon as possible and will be in touch with projects when this commences. Contract awards for successful projects will follow shortly afterwards.

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.

Found: present: Cat Smith (Chair); James Asser; Bambos Charalambous; Mary Kelly Foy; Tracy Gilbert; Gurinder Singh Josan