Member

Finally, I believe that Amendment 306 in my name is extremely important. If the Government are persisting with these clean energy projects and insisting on removing the power of local residents to object to them, common sense would dictate that fire and rescue services should have the right to be statutory consultees, particularly where these clean energy projects are highly flammable and at risk of thermal runaway and could spread very quickly. These projects are often very close to schools, nurseries, housing and other existing developments, so I frankly find it weird and very alarming that these potentially highly flammable planning projects are not benefiting from advice from fire and rescue services. If they were statutory consultees, it would make the potential sites safer. I end on that note and ask the Minister in her heart to explain to the House this evening for what possible reason of safety and good practice fire and rescue services are not statutory consultees to these potentially very dangerous sites.