Context
Darren Paffey notes that Southampton's port electrification and decarbonisation projects are ready but cannot proceed due to a lack of national grid upgrades expected to take a decade. The Prime Minister previously highlighted that such delays drive up costs, reduce growth, and hinder Britain's progress.
Question
Southampton's port electrification and decarbonisation projects are ready to go, but we still cannot get the national grid upgrades that we need for at least another decade. The Prime Minister himself has said that this drives costs up, drags growth down and holds Britain back, so I really welcome the announcements about Great British Grid. Will the Minister say when GB Grid will be able to start filling those gaps that exist at the moment, and will he meet me and Southampton's businesses so that we can find a way forward and get good green growth in Southampton's postcodes?
Answer from Michael Shanks
My hon. Friend is absolutely right to highlight the point that the Prime Minister made about how critical it is to fix the fundamental problems with connecting to the grid. That is why we have announced that we have set up Great British Grid as part of Great British Energy. We have made substantial progress on reforming the queue, but we do have to build the grid after decades of under-investment. I am very happy to meet my hon. Friend to discuss this issue, and I am fairly confident that we can make sure that National Grid is part of that conversation as well.
Not addressed: Specific timeline for Great British Grid to start filling gaps was not provided
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