To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will provide for more cross-channel power cables to be installed to allow for the import of electricity from other European sources. [HL5387]

We welcome the construction of new electricity interconnectors. Such infrastructure has the potential to increase competition and security of supply within our domestic market.

While deciding on such investment is primarily a commercial matter, the EU’s recently adopted third energy package will help promote the development of greater interconnection. This legislation includes provisions to make it easier to trade electricity between different member states by increasing transparency on the availability of capacity on existing infrastructure and through initiatives to simplify trading arrangements. The package also establishes procedures to co-ordinate the development of transmission systems to help improve the integration of separate electricity networks. Regulatory certainty should also be enhanced by changes to the roles and independence of regulators in member states.

These developments should help promote investment in new interconnectors.