§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has made to the Department of Trade and Industry regarding the placement of wind farms around the UK coast. [168233]
§ Mr. CaplinThe Ministry of Defence has engaged with the Department of Trade and Industry and Crown Estates throughout the initial planning stages for wind farms around the UK coast. In that context MOD has drawn attention to those cases where it has concerns relating to wind farms and their effects on air safety, national defence monitoring, operational needs or where sites are within danger areas.
The Ministry of Defence is fully supportive of the Governments aims and targets for renewable energy.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans his Department has for wind farms on its facilities on the UK coastline. [168236]
§ Mr. CaplinThe Ministry of Defence currently has no wind farms on its facilities on the UK coastline, nor any plans to site any there. However, the Department would consider approaches from developers to site wind farms on its property where they will not interfere with defence operations, compromise safety or the United Kingdom defences.
§ Mrs. DunwoodyTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation he has(a) undertaken and (b) planned with maritime groups about the impact of offshore wind farms on marine navigation. [168237]
§ Mr. CaplinThe Ministry of Defence has engaged in consultation with The Maritime and Coastguard Agency in its capacity as a key sea user. This is to ensure that the Department's marine navigation and transport needs are adequately covered in the Marine Guidance Note to be published on Proposed UK Offshore Renewable Energy Installations: Guidance on Navigation Safety Issues.