HC Deb 21 February 1991 vol 186 cc195-6W
Mr. O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he gives to planning authorities on the fixing of satellite receivers on the outside of properties; under what conditions permission to site such a receiver may be refused; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Yeo

Where the installation of a satellite dish does not fall within the general permission granted by the Town and Country Planning General Development Order, it is in the first instance for the local planning authority to consider whether planning permission should be granted or refused, having regard to all material considerations. We hope later this year to publish planning guidelines which will give advice on unobtrusive siting of dishes.

Mr. O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he intends to amend the regulations specifying the planning conditions for the fixing of a satellite receiver on the outside of a property; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Yeo

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answers given by the then Minister for Planning to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) on 1 November,Official Report, column 695, and my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mrs. Gorman) on 13 November, Official Report, column 93. We hope to announce shortly how the Town and Country Planning General date. In the case of some DOE programmes, the information available relates to allocations or approvals, rather than expenditure.

Information for the years 1979–80 to 1985–86 is not readily available.

Development Order 1988 will be amended in the light of the consultation exercise undertaken last summer and the subsequent Sky-BSB merger.

Mr. O'Brien

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received about the accuracy of the advice given to purchasers of a satellite receiver by the suppliers in respect of planning conditions; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Yeo

No representations have been received. The forthcoming departmental planning guide for the siting of satellite antennas will be widely distributed among the suppliers of antennas. This should help to improve the quality of advice and also the standard of installation.