Onshore Wind (Planning Policy) Debate

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Onshore Wind (Planning Policy)

Nigel Adams Excerpts
Thursday 6th June 2013

(10 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Mark Prisk Portrait Mr Prisk
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It is important that a wide range of local voices are involved, but clearly those matters and where the boundaries must lie in any individual application are a matter not for central Government but for local government.

Nigel Adams Portrait Nigel Adams (Selby and Ainsty) (Con)
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People in my part of North Yorkshire will be thrilled with the announcement this morning. May I add my gratitude to the hon. Member for Daventry (Chris Heaton-Harris) and the Minister without Portfolio, my right hon. Friend the Member for South Holland and The Deepings (Mr Hayes), for championing these changes? Will the Minister assure the House that local councils will be given the correct level of support to implement the changes? They often come up against very clever and expensive lawyers from development companies and need far better support.

Mark Prisk Portrait Mr Prisk
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We will write to all local planning authorities and to Sir Michael Pitt at the Planning Inspectorate. I take my hon. Friend’s point and I know that the issue is foremost in the mind of the Secretary of State. May I add my strong congratulations to my hon. Friend the Member for Daventry (Chris Heaton-Harris)? We have listened and we have improved the guidance for the better.