Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, in view of the Government's Net Zero Strategy, what steps he is taking to help facilitate the timely development of wind farms in the Irish Sea, such as Mona offshore windfarm.

The Growth Plan announced significant reforms to the planning system to accelerate delivery of major infrastructure projects. This builds on commitments to accelerate offshore wind deployment in the British Energy Security Strategy.

This will facilitate timely development of UK offshore windfarms including in the Irish Sea. Measures will reduce planning consent time from up to four years to one. They include a fast-track consenting route, strengthening Renewable National Policy Statements, streamlining habitats regulations assessments, and enabling strategic consideration of environmental issues. The Government will continue to work with the Offshore Wind Acceleration Task Force on further options for acceleration.