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Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill

Before the Minister answers, there is one issue that needs to be tackled. The Government have a renewable energy obligation of 10 per cent by 2010. With present technology, it seems that the only one on the market is wind energy. Natural England’s duties, as outlined in this general purpose clause, are of ““conserving and enhancing the landscape””. Will the Government listen to Natural England about its concerns for ““conserving and enhancing the landscape””? Many of the areas where wind farms are to be developed are the most sensitive areas of landscape. Or will the Government decide, through the Department of Trade and Industry, that wind farms, in order to fulfil the energy obligation, have to be put somewhere and that, therefore, they can override the primary duty of Natural England and the comments that it might make when a wind farm goes to inquiry? The bigger wind farms will obviously go to inquiries and the inspector will report. Natural England will have an opportunity to make its views known. If it is following exactly what the Minister has just said—improving and managing landscapes—to suddenly find 26 rather large wind turbines stuck on a ridge is very difficult to square with the improvement of a landscape. I would be most grateful if the Minister could answer my conundrum.