HL Deb 24 May 1990 vol 519 cc1021-4

11.20 a.m.

Lord Kennet asked Her Majesty's Government:

What will be the United Kingdom contribution to the cost of the proposed US radar station at St. David's in Pembrokeshire, and whether the money will be redeemable from the US Government if they decide to move the radar equipment, which is designed to be moveable, somewhere else.

Lord Reay

My Lords, the cost of the United Kingdom's contribution to the proposed two-year joint trial of a US Navy over-the-horizon radar in the United Kingdom will be around £15.5 million.

Once the trial begins both the United Kingdom and the United States fully intend to take it to its conclusion. However, should either participant seek to withdraw from the programme before the end of the trial, the detailed financial implications would be discussed at the time.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, I thank the Minister for that helfpul answer. Perhaps I may ask a supplementary question about health. What independent advice have the Government obtained of the possible effect on health of this new type of radar station, which emits an unfamiliar pattern of electromagnetic radiation? When I say "independent advice", I mean advice apart from that given by the United States Navy.

Lord Reay

My Lords, our belief is that the transmitter will not give off radioactivity or microwaves. We have closely followed the guidelines of the National Radiological Protection Board on health and safety regarding the hazards of this type of transmitter. We believe that the precautions taken are satisfactory. However, the independent environmental impact assessment which is to be undertaken will also include an assessment of the effects of the proposed installation on health.

Lord Graham of Edmonton

My Lords, the Minister is surely aware of local concern and anxiety regarding health hazards. He said that he and his colleagues are satisfied, but what steps have they taken to reassure the public? The Minister mentioned an environmental impact study. Can he say when that is likely to be available and whether it will be widely published and consulted upon? Bearing in mind the enormous change in the strategic need for installations of this kind in the light of swiftly changing defence commitments, are the Government prepared to consider the strategic necessity for this blot upon the landscape?

Lord Reay

My Lords, one of the steps taken to reassure the public was a visit to St. David's by my honourable friend the Minister of State for Defence Procurement on 10th May at the invitation of Mr. Nicholas Bennett MP. My honourable friend explained the essential background to the proposals and how it is intended to handle the consultation process. He also heard the concerns of constituents at first hand and undertook that they would be fully taken into account in the environmental impact assessment. The environmental impact assessment is to be carried out by a fully independent firm of planning consultants, W. S. Atkins, of Epsom, Surrey. We expect that to be completed later this summer.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, is it not the case that a very large number of people from the St. David's area came to meet Mr. Alan Clark and left him in no doubt about the deep concern of the inhabitants of the locality and their opposition to this project? Could the Minister confirm that Crown immunity will not be used to push the project through if the planning decisions show that the locality and the local authorities are against it?

Lord Reay

My Lords, I confirm that there have been a fair number of representations from the public expressing concern about these proposals. However, the Ministry of Defence will be commissioning a full environmental impact assessment for each site, which will support formal notices of the proposed development submitted to the relevant planning authorities in late summer.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, was not the Minister able to conclude after meeting the 700 or 800 people in St. David's that the locality is against the project?

Lord Reay

My Lords, the procedure that is to be followed is that a notice of proposed development will be submitted to the local planning authorities, together with an environmental impact assessment. It will then be necessary for the Government to consider what action to take.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, can my noble friend confirm that this project is a major element in the Anglo-American defence co-operation on which the peace of the world has depended for many years and will continue to depend for many years to come?

Lord Reay

My Lords, I agree with my noble friend. The over-the-horizon radar could complement the coverage obtained by conventional radar and substantially improve our early-warning cover and therefore our air defences.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, could the Minister confirm that the Welsh viewpoint will be taken into account in this Anglo-American conclusion?

Lord Reay

My Lords, most certainly the Welsh viewpoint is taken account of.

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

Thank you, my Lords.

Lord Mottistone

My Lords, could my noble friend tell us on what frequency the radar will transmit?

Lord Reay

My Lords, I do not have that information readily available. If I may I shall write to my noble friend.

Viscount St. Davids

My Lords, does the noble Lord agree that to bring a large number of men and women to live in the beautiful area of St. David's can only be good for their health?

Lord Reay

My Lords, I appreciate the beauty of the area and look forward to an opportunity to visit it and its famous cathedral.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, will the Minister answer the question of my noble friend Lord Graham of Edmonton on whether the environmental impact assessment will be published?

Lord Reay

My Lords, I answered several questions put by the noble Lord. The environmental impact assessment, which will be produced at the same time as the planning applications, will, as far as I know, be published.

Lord Gisborough

My Lords, could my noble friend say whether this project is similar to the Fylingdales radar station? If it is, first, the Fylingdales station has done no harm to people; secondly, it has become quite an attractive feature of the landscape.

Lord Reay

My Lords, I certainly think that the visual impact of the transmitter has been exaggerated in some reports. It may well be smaller and less obtrusive than many people fear.

Lord Kennet

My Lords, will the Minister allow me to assist? Is it not the case that Fylingdales is a phased array radar system and that the radar proposed at St. David's is not one of those? There is no technical precedent for what is being sited there, and that is the point of the health question.

Can the noble Lord be more specific in response to two questions which were put to him? The first one was whether the environmental impact statement would be published. He answered that it would be, he supposed. The second was whether the Government intended to use what my noble friend the Leader of the Opposition described as Crown privilege in ramming the proposal home, despite any objections which may appear at the planning inquiries. The last question surely requires a yes or no answer. Will that be considered or will it not?

Lord Reay

My Lords, formally speaking, the Crown is not bound by planning legislation. However, in common with other government departments, it is government practice to adhere strictly to planning processes in accordance with appropriate departmental guidelines.