David Cameron’s planning minister Nick Boles, has been stripped of his wind farm planning duties due to the fact that his brother is working for Siemens.
Nick Boles was in charge of guidance on wind farms location since September until April, when his brother, chief financial officers for Siemens Wind Power, was relocated from Germany to Britain.
”This was in the light of his brother’s employment with Siemens and his planned return to the UK from Germany. The permanent secretary reviewed and approved the arrangements,“ said the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG ) in their statement.
They continued: ”For the avoidance of doubt, Nick Boles played no role in the planning practice guidance on wind farms announced to Parliament in June 2013 and published this week.“
Boles was stripped of his duties to avoid the perception of any potential conflict of interest.
Housing minister Mark Prisk was appointed to be in charge of guidance for wind farm planning.
[mappress]
Press release, August 6, 2013; Image: dclg