§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales when the letter from the hon. Member for Wrexham to him of 5 April about the Mynydd y Cemmaes wind farm extension planning application was brought to his attention; and when he expects to reply. [82037]
§ Mr. MichaelI have replied to the hon. Member and have placed a copy in the Library of the House.
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will list the procedures which he follows when he is minded to overturn a planning decision made by one of his inspectors; [82038]
(2) what procedures he followed in his consideration of the planning inspector's report on the application for an extension to the wind farm at Mynydd y Cemmaes; [82040]
82W(3) if he will rescind his decision to allow the application for an extension to the wind farm at Mynydd y Cemmaes and pay all appropriate compensation; [82066]
(4) what discussions he had with ministerial colleagues prior to his decision to overturn his inspector's decision not to grant planning permission for an extension to the wind farm at Mynydd y Cemmaes. [82041]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesUnder the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 the decision is final. It is not open to Ministers to comment on the merits of the decision or the reasoning behind it. The decision was reached taking account of all relevant considerations, one of which was the Inspector's recommendation.
The conclusions reached by a planning inspector, following a public inquiry, are put to the Welsh Office as recommendations not reasons. The decision is final whether taken directly by the Secretary of State or under delegated powers.
I am satisfied that the handling and determination of this application was carried out having proper regard to all relevant requirements including the Town and Country Planning (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1992. It is not open to the Department to rescind the decision.
I had no conversations with Ministerial colleagues on this application. The inspector's recommendations were available to me alongside advice from officials.
Following the transfer of functions, this issue will be a matter for the National Assembly.
§ Dr. MarekTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the visits to wind farms by his Department's Ministers in the last year, indicating upon whose invitation each visit was made. [82039]
Mr. Jon Owen JonesThe Under-Secretary of State, my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgend (Mr. Griffiths) toured Bryn Titli and Carno wind farms, Mid Wales, with National Wind Power and Bonus Energy UK on 1 May 1998. I toured Carno Wind farm, Mid Wales, with National Wind Power and Bonus Energy UK on 1 October 1998.