Commons Sense

Hansard-based summaries and metrics

Onshore Wind Planning Applications 2024-04-16

2024-04-16

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op
Harrow West
▸ Context
The number of onshore wind planning applications in Great Britain increased by 27% from 2022 to 2023. The government had claimed to lift the onshore wind ban seven months prior, suggesting it would speed up project delivery.
What discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on trends in the number of onshore wind planning applications?
Andrew Bowie
In 2023, 80 onshore wind planning applications were submitted in Great Britain—a 27% increase from 2022. We have recently changed planning policy in England to pave the way for more onshore wind projects where there is local support.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The answer does not address the specific discussions with cabinet colleagues and focuses only on statistics and recent changes in policy.
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Gareth Thomas Lab Co-op
Harrow West
▸ Context
The number of onshore wind planning applications in Great Britain increased by 27% from 2022 to 2023. The government had claimed to lift the onshore wind ban seven months prior, suggesting it would speed up project delivery. However, no new applications for domestic use have been submitted since.
It is now seven months since the Government claimed to have lifted the onshore wind ban. The Secretary of State at the time claimed that her decision would speed up the delivery of projects. Since then, no new applications for onshore wind farms for domestic use have been submitted. Does the Minister think that that has been a success?
Andrew Bowie
Unlike the Opposition, we like to work with and listen to communities around the country. We believe in local consent for projects. It should be up to local communities to decide whether and how much onshore wind they want in their area. The Opposition do not like to talk about this, but we must remember that in 2010, a pitiful 7% of electricity came from renewables—that is up to 50% under this Government.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The answer does not address whether the lack of new applications since lifting the ban has been successful and instead focuses on criticising the opposition.
Response accuracy