§ 11.5 a.m.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords. May I apologise to your Lordships for not being in my place when this Question was called on Tuesday. I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied that local planning authorities have adequate technical advice at their disposal to deal with planning applications for radio masts, and in particular whether the gas industry, proposals for telemetric control of pipelines by radio have been fully examined as a whole with a view to their using landlines instead.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (LORD KENNET)My Lords, a circular on planning control of radio masts of which a copy is available in the Library has just been sent to planning authorities. This points out that the onus is on an applicant to explain the technical case for any new mast and that if a planning authority is not satisfied it can seek the help of a consultant. A very full examination has been carried out of the gas industry's requirements for telemetric control of natural gas pipelines, and the Government are satisfied that the use of radio is essential.
§ LORD CHORLEYMy Lords, while thanking the Minister for that reply and realising that at any rate some parts of it will meet with the appreciation of amenity societies, I would ask the Minis- 1020 ter and your Lordships for time to consider it with the possibility of coming back to this Question.