Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 5
5
Acknowledged
The UK Government should work with the Welsh Government to identify the staffing and resourcing...
Recommendation
The UK Government should work with the Welsh Government to identify the staffing and resourcing requirements of consenting bodies necessary for the delivery of floating offshore wind at pace. Subsequent to this review, both governments should bring forward a joint plan and timetable for how these resources will be allocated and shared to meet demand. (Paragraph 25) Ensuring local supply chains benefit from floating offshore wind
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for environmental and biodiversity specialists and highlights the Net Zero Skills and Workforce Action Plan due in 2024, as well as the Welsh Government's review of marine licensing and consenting processes.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
The recent report from Offshore Wind Industry Champion Tim Pick recognised an increased need for environmental and biodiversity specialists for industry and statutory bodies, including Local Authorities, across the UK and, in line with the recommendations on skills from the Independent Review of Net Zero, the renewables industry is working within the Green Jobs Delivery Group to develop the Net Zero Skills and Workforce Action Plan to be published in 2024, which will address emerging workforce challenges. Similarly, the Welsh Government recently set out its Net Zero Skills Action Plan which aims to ensure a partnership approach, drawing on its social partnership way of working. The plan expressly recognises that the status quo is not sustainable, and the plan is the first step in helping to guide difficult decisions on business investment and planning, with education providers and public services. Welsh Government have also undertaken an end-to- end review of the marine licensing, consenting and supporting advisory processes to remove barriers, drawing on the work of existing groups. The final report of this review is expected at the end of October and will include a series of recommendations for improvements to these processes.