Planning minister Nick Boles was stripped of his role for wind farm policy in April because of a family conflict of interest, it has emerged.
Reports in The Daily Telegraph today confirm Mr Boles, who joined the DCLG in last September's Cabinet reshuffle, had the role taken away from him after his brother, Jonathan Boles, who was chief financial officer for Siemens European division, relocated from Germany to Britain to take up a senior role with Siemens Wind Power.
Responsibility for adjudicating on wind-planning has been passed to housing minister Mark Prisk to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest. However, a DCLG source stressed that while Siemens is involved in the construction of wind turbines, it does not operate onshore or offshore wind farms.
Until he lost responsibility for this part of his ministerial brief, Westminster sources alleged Mr Boles had struck an informal alliance with fellow Conservative energy minister John Hayes to oppose the construction of more onshore wind developments. Mr Hayes was subsequently moved to a new role as minister without portfolio role in the Cabinet Office after frequent run-ins with Liberal Democrat energy secretary Ed Davey.
‘Responsibility for planning policy and casework in relation to wind farms transferred from Nick Boles in April 2013 to avoid the perception of any potential conflict of interest,' A DCLG spokesman confirmed.
‘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. 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.'
