Question to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government:

To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what estimate her Department has made of the number of planning officers needed to manage Development Consent Orders for energy infrastructure under the 2030 decarbonisation target.

Examining Development Consent Orders for energy projects is one of a range of workstreams which the Planning Inspectorate will need to undertake. As part of the Spending Review, the Planning Inspectorate is considering the overall funding and resources it will require over the spending review period and will work closely with MHCLG on priorities and available funding.