HC Deb 29 April 2003 vol 404 c337W
Mr. Lidington

To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she has taken to ensure that regional plans for renewable energy take account of the impact of new generating facilities on the tourist industry. [109831]

Dr. Howells

Well-sited wind farms can co-exist with tourism. It is for regional and local government, including local planning authorities, to consider the impact of policy choices and to find ways to achieve economic, social and environmental objectives at the same time. Our guidance to Regional Development Agencies in respect of their new strategic responsibility for tourism is that they should align their sustainable tourism strategy with other regional strategies.