Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what factors he will take into account in negotiations to agree with Xlinks a price for the electricity it will supply to the National Grid; and how he will ensure value for money in public spending on the interconnector project.

My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has had early stage discussions with Xlinks about their proposal to import renewable electricity from Morocco to the UK. The Department has not undertaken a detailed assessment of the value for money of any supply from this project. Any assessment would be in accordance with established processes for managing public money.