Written question WQ86549

The Welsh Ministers have competence to determine offshore wind applications with an expected installed generating capacity of between 1MW and 350MW under a procedure set out in the Electricity Act 1989 (“EA”). The Welsh Ministers is also the determining authority, should the applicant pursue an Order under the Transport and Works Act 1992 (“TWA”) instead for any offshore generating station of any installed generating capacity.

Neither of these processes are subject to a statutory timeframe, and as the Welsh Ministers only have executive competence over these processes, it cannot make fundamental changes which may guarantee a decision within a statutory timeframe.

While this is the case, I am committed to simplifying the consenting process for major on and offshore infrastructure. In the First Minister’s oral statement on the legislative programme dated 5 July, a commitment was made to introduce an Infrastructure Consenting Bill. The Bill will replace existing statutory regimes for the consenting of Welsh infrastructure projects, and I am exploring the need for an appropriate statutory timeframe as part of that process.