Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent discussions he has had with ESO-National Grid on the timing of the next consultation on the East Anglia Green Energy Enablement project; and if he will make a statement.

National Grid ESO is the electricity systems operator. The timing of any consultation on planning is a matter for the developer responsible for East Anglia Green, National Grid Electricity Transmission, to determine. At this stage National Grid Electricity Transmission has not undertaken statutory consultation for this project, and it is my understanding that NGET have committed to carefully consider the recommendations of the independent ESO study ahead of their statutory consultation for this project. Given the quasi-judicial role of the Secretary of State in making planning decisions for Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects, it is not appropriate to comment further.