§ Lord John-MackieMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government what consultations they had with local planning authorities before sponsoring the project of cellular radio.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Trade and Industry (Lord Lucas of Chilworth)My Lords, the necessary consultation is provided for in individual cases under town and country planning legislation. This requires telecommunication operators to obtain planning permission from the local planning authority for the installation of apparatus. The new general development order will grant a general permission in respect of certain minor apparatus installed by telecommunications code operators. There has been full public consultation about the proposal to apply the code to the two cellular operators.
§ Lord John-MackieMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that Answer, but is he aware that the plan that the operators have issued shows a proliferation of these masts all over the country, somewhat less than 10 or 15 miles apart? Does he not think that the Government should have consulted at least the Association of County Councils, if not the local planning officers, before sponsoring a project which will litter the countryside with masts up to 200 feet high?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, I do not know from where the noble Lord gets the number of applications. But certainly the local authorities were consulted with regard to the draft licences, as were 38 other boards and interested bodies.
§ Lord John-MackieMy Lords, I can give the noble Lord the information that two companies have issued a map showing circles where all these masts are to be, and they cover almost the whole of the southern counties of England up to the Midlands.
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, as I understand it, these are proposals and they are subject to planning requirements.
§ Lord Carmichael of KelvingroveMy Lords, is the Minister aware that one of the main uses of cellular radio will be for telephones in motor cars? Although everyone accepts and welcomes the guidance of the 432 Minister of State in the Department of Transport who said that anyone dialling in a motor car should stop the car and not try to dial while driving, there is evidence of many cases of people having long and quite excited business conversations in a car, and that must be dangerous. Will a code of practice be laid down for the use of telephones in motor cars, particularly moving ones?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, that is a matter for further consideration.
Lord OramMy Lords, is there not a considerable danger that these masts, unless very carefully sited, will be a considerable blemish on the countryside? If that is so, will the Minister consider the need to draw up a code of practice for the siting of the masts?
§ Lord Lucas of ChilworthMy Lords, Schedule 4 to the draft licences provides a code of practice, and there are specific requirements in regard to sites of special beauty, protected buildings and such like.