§ Ms RuddockTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment when the planning and telecommunications consultation paper was subject to an environmental appraisal using the guidance contained in "Policy Appraisal and the Environment"; if he will publish the appraisal; what alternative courses of action from those set out in the planning and telecommunications consultation paper were considered in the environmental appraisal; how the paper was modified following the appraisal; and what procedures have been put in place by his Department to monitor the environmental impacts arising from the implementation of the paper. [29493]
§ Sir Paul BeresfordOur consultation paper, "Planning and Telecommuncations", seeks views on whether a general planning permission should be granted for certain kinds of telecommunications development. The potential environmental impact was considered in drawing up the paper although a full environmental assessment was not judged appropriate. Likely environmental implications will be fully taken into account in the formulation of any new policies, in the light of responses to the consultation. We are not proposing special arrangements to monitor the impact of any new legislation arising from this consultation exercise but this will be kept under a review in the normal way.