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.