§ Mr. EnnisTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions when his Department will be issuing for consultation draft guidance for local authorities on land-use planning and electromagnetic fields. [63262]
§ Mr. CabornThe Department has today issued for consultation the draft of a joint circular with the Department of Health. It gives guidance to local planning authorities in drawing up development plan policies or deciding planning applications for development giving rise to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) or for development proposed in the vicinity of existing sources of EMFs. Examples of development emitting EMFs are overhead power lines and telecommunications base stations. The Government recognise that there is some public concern about the possible health effects of exposure to EMFs and it is upon this aspect that the guidance focuses.
Comments are requested by 19 February 1999. Copies of the consultation package have been placed in the Library.