Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what plans she has to ensure reliable and affordable supplies of Helium in the use of research funded by her department.

The Government recognises the importance of reliable and affordable helium supplies for UK research. We are strengthening resilience across critical supply chains including through diversifying supply sources and supporting domestic capability, where appropriate.

UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) work closely with the research community and infrastructure providers to monitor emerging risks and is already starting to explore options for continued access to essential materials. Decisions on procurement and use of resources are taken locally by institutions, supported by UKRI funding, while Government continues to engage internationally and with partners to promote stable and sustainable global supply chains for critical research inputs.

In the specific context of Helium for a closed-loop cryoplant (the majority of the large scale cryoplants in use) only a very small fraction of Helium is lost; most of it is actually recycled. Top-up to the systems is therefore minimal.