Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, with reference to page 61 of the Autumn Statement 2023 and page 64 of the connections action plan, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of including in the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) (a) the development of an offshore grid covering offshore wind farms off the coast of the East of England and (b) a reassessment of proposals from National Grid for the Norwich to Tilbury Great Grid Upgrade.

The Strategic Spatial Energy Plan will determine the optimal scale and location of energy infrastructure needed to transition to homegrown energy. This will inform the delivery of the Central Strategic Network Plan, which will consider what network and other infrastructure is needed to link new energy generation with end users.