HL Deb 19 October 1954 vol 189 cc501-2WA
LORD BROUGHSHANE

asked Her Majesty's Government whether it is their policy to prohibit new building within a radius of 1½ miles and more from Ministry of Supply stores of explosives and if so, in how many cases and under what statutory powers this policy has been put into effect; whether this policy, inasmuch as it prevents the erection of housing accommodation for farm workers, is not seriously impeding the agricultural development of large areas, and whether it should not be reviewed, having regard (1) to the fact that in certain instances there are already inhabited dwellings within the prohibited area, and (2) to the very much smaller danger areas prescribed by law in the case of privately owned stores of explosives.

LORD MANCROFT

It is not the policy of Her Majesty's Government to prohibit new building within a radius of 1½ miles and more from Ministry of Supply stores of explosives. The Ministry of Supply is consulted, by agreement with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, whenever local planning authorities receive applications for new development in the vicinity of Ministry of Supply explosives storage depôts, and the Ministry advises on the degree of risk, if there were an explosion, to persons and property at the site proposed for the development. At no depôt does the risk extend to sites further than one mile from the depôt boundary; in many depôts it extends considerably less. Nor does it follow that all development within this radius is at risk. There are 40 Ministry of Supply explosives depôts, factories or establishments, development in the vicinity of which is the subject of consultation.

It is not the Ministry's experience that the agricultural development of large areas is being seriously impeded because of the presence of a Ministry of Supply explosives depôt. There is no interference with existing development or farming operations, and of the applications for development of all kinds which have so far been considered, it has been necessary in only a small proportion to advise that the development should not proceed. The danger areas prescribed by law in the case of privately owned stores of explosives and of Ministry of Supply stores are precisely the same for comparable types of explosives. It is merely the larger quantity and different types of explosives handled in Ministry depôts that make larger danger areas necessary.

House adjourned at eight minutes before seven o'clock.