§ Miss Quennellasked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) why his Department has elected to use the Circular 100 procedure for the projected Oakhanger satellite tracking station;
(2) why he has refused to allow the Hampshire County Council to advertise the plans for the Oakhanger satellite tracking station;
(3) in view of his refusal to allow the planning authority to advertise his Departments plans for a satellite tracking station at Oakhanger, what steps he is taking to enable members of the public to acquaint themselves with the plans and to discover the effect upon their homes and properties.
§ Mr. ReynoldsCircular 100 provides the normal method of planning consultation for Government Departments; and local planning authorities are free, under this procedure, to take soundings by whatever means they consider appropriate. We have not refused to allow the Hampshire County Council to advertise plans for Oakhanger, and we have arranged to meet them prior to details of the project being announced.