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

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment, if any, they have made of the adequacy of the Planning Inspectorate's capacity to consider human rights impacts in the sourcing of materials during the examination of applications for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects relating to energy.

As public authorities, HMG and the Planning Inspectorate have a duty to act in a way that is compatible with Human Rights in the exercise of their functions under the Planning Act 2008.

It is a matter for government law and policy, such as trade rules and international agreements that determine how the sourcing of materials is regulated, and the Planning Inspectorate will examine applications in a way which is compatible with such requirements. It is implicit that the holder of a Development Consent Order (DCO) will comply with the law on sourcing materials, including human rights impacts such as slavery.

On the 8th July the Chancellor committed to updating relevant National Policy Statements (NPSs) within the year. This review will target NPSs covering the types of national infrastructure which are most critical to achieving the Government’s growth and clean energy missions. This will include any NPSs that consider the human rights impacts in the sourcing of materials. Government will launch a consultation on proposed changes to these NPSs in the new year.