8. What plans does the Welsh Government have to review TAN8? OAQ(5)0196(FM)[W]

None, at the moment.

Well, that’s a disappointment, First Minister, because TAN 8 has been in place without significant review since 2005. In a way, it’s failed in its main objective, namely planning for renewable energy and the target that the Government had set. We’re a long way off that target. Of, course we know that new powers in that area will come to the Government, up to 350 MW, which includes all of the terrestrial developments, as well as interesting things such as tidal lagoons. Is it appropriate now to review TAN 8 and to have some enforcement powers for climate change objectives, and also to put pressure on National Grid to strengthen the grid where that needs to be done?

Well, I don’t believe that the problem lies with the TAN. The problem lies with the boundaries, where we can’t deal with anything in excess of 350 MW—and in marine energy nothing more than 1 MW. Of course, TAN 8 was not considered by Ministers in London. So, it’s not the TAN that’s the problem but the artificial boundaries. We welcome the fact that 350 MW will be the boundary ultimately. There’s no real reason why that’s been chosen. But I quite agree—and he would agree with me, I’m sure—that we should have the same powers over the grid as Scotland has. So, it’s the powers that are a problem and not the TAN.