General Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at on 2 October 2025.
David Torrance
Scottish National Party
To ask the Scottish Government how it will ensure that Scotland remains at the forefront of hydrogen development and deployment. (S6O-05012)
Gillian Martin
Scottish National Party
The Scottish Government is committed to supporting the hydrogen sector in Scotland to develop and grow. We are engaging with business and the United Kingdom Government on the enabling policies that are required and the investment, infrastructure and regulatory measures that need to be in place to realise the substantial opportunities for Scotland from the production and use of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen, given our renewable power potential in Scotland. We are working with Scotland’s enterprise agencies to deliver our commitment to provide up to £10 million to the sector in 2025-26, with the aim of supporting production, infrastructure and usage projects.
David Torrance
Scottish National Party
With the H100 Fife hydrogen homes project close to launch, how is the Scottish Government working with regulators to ensure a smooth transition to hydrogen, to enable broader adaptation and adoption of similar technologies across Scotland and to build public confidence in hydrogen as a safe and sustainable energy source?
Gillian Martin
Scottish National Party
The use of hydrogen as an energy vector has been routine by industry in Scotland for many decades, mostly in petrochemical refining. However, hydrogen use for domestic heating is new and needs to be demonstrated. The H100 Fife project, which I have visited, will inform UK Government decisions on the role of hydrogen in decarbonising heat using the gas network.
We are working with Scottish and UK regulators through multiple channels, including the Scottish regulatory steering group and the UK hydrogen regulators forum, to ensure that the framework for hydrogen supports the scale-up of the sector while protecting the environment and communities.
Safety is absolutely fundamental, and the beauty of the H100 Fife project is that it can demonstrate that safety. Before the trial can go ahead, the Health and Safety Executive will have to be satisfied that it will run safely. If the HSE is satisfied, the evidence will demonstrate that the trial can run, which will provide the evidence to show that 100 per cent hydrogen, where applicable, can be used safely in a domestic setting.
Question Time is an opportunity for MPs and Members of the House of Lords to ask Government Ministers questions. These questions are asked in the Chamber itself and are known as Oral Questions. Members may also put down Written Questions. In the House of Commons, Question Time takes place for an hour on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays after Prayers. The different Government Departments answer questions according to a rota and the questions asked must relate to the responsibilities of the Government Department concerned. In the House of Lords up to four questions may be asked of the Government at the beginning of each day's business. They are known as 'starred questions' because they are marked with a star on the Order Paper. Questions may also be asked at the end of each day's business and these may include a short debate. They are known as 'unstarred questions' and are less frequent. Questions in both Houses must be written down in advance and put on the agenda and both Houses have methods for selecting the questions that will be asked. Further information can be obtained from factsheet P1 at the UK Parliament site.
