§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date it became his Department's policy to produce environmental impact statements for new defence construction projects; and if he will list all such environmental impact statements produced to date.
§ Mr. NeubertMy Department first undertook an environmental impact assessment in 1984. Since then it has been the practice to consider their preparation wherever the submission of a notice of proposed development to a local planning authority might give rise to local concern. In so doing, we now adhere to the guidelines issued in 1988 by the Department of the Environment, the Scottish Office, and the Welsh Office.
To date we have produced environmental impact statements in relation to the following proposed developments:
- Clyde Submarine Base—Overall development proposals;
- Clyde Submarine Base—Glen Fruin Road;
- Clyde Submarine Base—Northern Access Road and Garelochhead Bypass;
- Clyde Submarine Base—Rhu Narrows;
- Clyde Submarine Base—Magnetic Treatment Facility;
- NATO Pipeline—Colne to Purton to Fairford;
- Otterhurn Training Area—New Military road.