Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to speed up the provision of connections to the electrical grid and the issuing of permits for renewable energy developments.

The Government is working with Ofgem and network companies to release network capacity and improve the connections process, which will reduce connection timescales. The Government will publish a connections action plan in the summer.

The Government has demonstrated commitment to ensuring a better, faster, greener, fairer, and more resilient Nationally Significant Infrastructure planning process by publishing an Action Plan for reform in February 2023. The Government is now implementing these reforms, including publishing five revised energy National Policy Statements in March 2023, which are currently out for consultation until 23rd June.