§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will call in the decision by the South Hams district council to refuse permission to erect a five foot high security fence around the borders of HMS Cambridge, the gunnery school at Wembury near Plymouth;
(2) if he will hold a public inquiry into the proposal to erect fencing around the boundaries of HMS Cambridge, the gunnery school at Wembury near Plymouth.
§ Mr. Michael HowardNo proposal for fencing at HMS Cambridge has been referred to the Secretary of State. Crown development which would require planning permission if carried out by a private owner (including fencing over two metres in height) is the subject of consultation with the local planning authority. So also is development which would not need specific permission but would have a significant planning impact, visually or otherwise, beyond the Department's own site; circular 18/84 sets this out. If the local planning authority objects, the matter must then be referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment. If a proposal is referred, there is provision for a non-statutory public local inquiry.