Commons Sense

House of Commons · Westminster Hall

Aquind Interconnector

13 July 2021 · 0 other contributors · 2,601 words

Opened by Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South

Responding minister: Paul Scully

EnergyEnvironment

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Stephen Morgan raised concerns about aquind interconnector in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.

Key points

  • Mr Morgan is concerned about the proposed Aquind interconnector project affecting Portsmouth negatively.
  • Constituents report disruption from noise, dust, and loss of natural light during construction.
  • Mr Morgan asks the Minister to publish all correspondence with Aquind and conduct an independent review.

Key requests to Government

Mr. Morgan asks the Minister to commit to publishing all correspondence with Aquind and conducting an independent review of the project to ensure transparency and address concerns raised by local residents.

How the debate unfolded

MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said.

Opened the debate

Stephen Morgan Lab Portsmouth South

Mr. Morgan is concerned about the proposed Aquind interconnector project and its negative impact on Portsmouth residents, businesses, and the environment. Constituents report significant disruption to daily life, including noise, dust, and loss of natural light during construction. The project threatens transport infrastructure and valuable green spaces such as Milton common and Farlington playing fields. Additionally, there are concerns about financial arrangements involving loans from OGN Enterprises Ltd in the British Virgin Islands and potential security risks due to data pipes alongside the interconnector.

Government Response

Paul Scully

It is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship of Sir Charles Walker. I congratulate Stephen Morgan on securing this important debate. Great Britain currently has 6 GW of electricity interconnection, supporting security of supply, low consumer prices, and decarbonisation goals. Interconnectors widen energy markets, making them more efficient by transporting cheaper electricity from lower-priced regions to higher-priced ones, benefiting consumers. They also provide flexibility for system operators to respond rapidly to changes in demand and supply, helping integrate intermittent renewable energy sources and reducing curtailment, thus supporting decarbonisation. A study commissioned by the Department shows that increased interconnection could facilitate decarbonisation by 2050. The Secretary of State has three months from receipt of the Planning Inspectorate's report to make a decision on Aquind Interconnector, which must be based solely on planning merits and not influenced by external factors. Developers are required to consult local communities extensively before submitting applications. The Planning Inspectorate will assess adequacy of consultations and provide recommendations in their report to the Secretary of State. The Government aim to realise at least 18 GW of interconnector capacity by 2030, tripling current capacity.

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