Asked by: Lord Fuller (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many reviews are currently outstanding for decisions to be made by Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on whether or not to list a building, and what is the average time to conclude a review.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
There are currently 9 review cases under consideration. The oldest case was received on 11th April 2024 and the most recent came in on 24th November 2024.
The designation review process itself is non-statutory, which means there is no statutory obligation to respond to cases within a specific timeframe, however we undertake to complete them as swiftly as possible once all new evidence and advice from Historic England, if required, is received.
All designation review requests received by the Department will be carefully considered and the decisions confirmed in due course.
Asked by: Lord Fuller (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the overall competitiveness of UK port charges on a regional basis for the bulk cargoes that support global trade, in comparison with those of the UK's principal trading partners in the European Union.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
No such formal assessment has been made. However, the UK ports sector is market-oriented and competitive both internally and externally, with ample capacity available at national level for bulk cargoes.
Asked by: Lord Fuller (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask His Majesty's Government for how many hectares, and in which locations, are applications currently being considered for large-scale solar farms under the 'nationally significant infrastructure project' regime; and what aggregate assessment they have made of the consequent effect on national food security and other competing land uses.
Answered by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The application details for live planning cases are available from the Planning Inspectorate’s website. There are currently two live Nationally Significant Infrastructure solar cases:
West Burton: 886 hectares on the Lincolnshire/Nottinghamshire border.
Heckington Fen: 524 hectares, in North Kesteven, Lincolnshire.
An Environmental Statement forms part of an application for development consent and includes a description of the likely significant effects of the proposed development on the environment, including on land use and any impacts resulting from the cumulation of effects with other projects.
These impacts are considered during the planning enquiry and weighed up in the planning balance when the Secretary of State makes his decision.