Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when she plans to respond to the recommendations on (a) a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan, (b) lump sum payments for individual households close to new lines and (c) other issues in the Winser report on accelerating electricity transmission network deployment; and if she will make a statement.

The Government welcomes the Electricity Networks Commissioner’s report and will publish an Action Plan in response by the end of this year.

In his speech on Net Zero on 20 September, the Prime Minister announced that the government will shortly bring forward reforms to energy infrastructure including setting out the UK’s first spatial plan.

Government wants to ensure communities hosting transmission network infrastructure can benefit from supporting the delivery of cheaper, secure and low-carbon energy for Great Britain. We consulted on this earlier this year and are developing guidance, which we intend to publish in 2023.