Oral Answers to Questions

Helen Morgan Excerpts

Tuesday 24th March 2026 Commons Chamber

[Helen Morgan (North Shropshire) (LD)]

8. What assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the process for implementing nationally significant infrastructure projects in relation to electric lines.

[The Minister for Energy (Michael Shanks)]

The nationally significant infrastructure project regime provides a clear consenting route for nationally significant electricity lines, but processes have been too slow and we are determined to change that. Our reforms support the faster delivery of infrastructure, essential for strengthening our energy security in periods of global instability, while maintaining a robust and proportionate consenting process.

[Helen Morgan]

Green GEN Cymru, which is a sister company of Bute Energy, is in the latter stages of a very controversial process to secure planning consent for power lines for the Vyrnwy Frankton connection. The problem is that there is no substation at Lower Frankton in North Shropshire with which to connect those lines. We expect that proposal to come through later this year, but given Bute Energy’s widely reported links to the Labour party and National Grid’s obligation to connect new infrastructure to the grid, how can the Minister reassure my constituents that the whole process is not predetermined?

[Michael Shanks]

First, obviously I cannot comment from the Dispatch Box on a live application process. I have met a number of MPs to talk about this issue, and we are looking at all the available information. Ofgem has a role in regulating the individual energy companies that are part of this mix. I am not sure what the hon. Lady’s final point has to do with this particular planning application, but I am happy to write to her on that.

--- Later in debate ---

[Martin McCluskey]

We heard in the responses to our 2024 consultation the concerns about the continued risk to consumers arising from some of these TPIs. The Government plan to bring in new regulation of TPIs and will appoint Ofgem as the regulator, which will be empowered to put in place rules to protect small and medium-sized enterprises and other TPI customers.

[Helen Morgan (North Shropshire) (LD)]

T6. In North Shropshire, around 15,000 households, including my own, are reliant on fuels like heating oil or LPG to heat them. These people are also hit hardest by rises at the petrol pumps because they do not have alternative forms of transport. While everybody who is connected to mains electricity and gas benefits from the price cap, those of us who are off-grid have only been offered means-tested support. Will the Government consider introducing a price cap on alternative fuels to ensure that rural and off-grid homes get the support they deserve?

[Martin McCluskey]

The support on offer is not means-tested; it is at the discretion of local authorities to decide the criteria for those applications. That is the first point. The second point is that the CMA is investigating this in detail. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said earlier, if there are any examples, please bring them to my attention and to the CMA’s attention, so that they can be considered as part of that review.