§ 6. Mr. Haymanasked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs whether he will make a statement about the proposal of the Atomic Energy Authority to establish seismic instrument sites in the Dartmoor National Park.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (Sir Keith Joseph)As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for Science explained on 14th March, six local interests were consulted about this temporary installation of a number of small recording instrument pits on Dartmoor. Only one, the Dartmoor Preservation Association, objected. My right hon. Friend saw no need to intervene in view of the negligible effect on amenities.
§ Mr. HaymanIs the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the Atomic Energy Authority failed to contact the National Parks Commission? Does not he consider that to be a considerable slight on an important statutory body? Will he take into account that, although these seismic sites are said to be temporary, a good many residents of Dartmoor National Park fear that they may become permanent?
§ Sir K. JosephMy information is that the National Parks Commission did consider the project and raised no objection. Certainly the Dartmoor National Park Planning Committee was consulted. There is no reason to fear that these sites are permanent. They serve a very important national purpose in research behind the Geneva talks.