§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what plans he has to produce guidance for planning authorities on the handling of public health concerns that arise from proposals to site mobile phone base stations in residential areas; [100264]
(2) what plans he has to amend planning guidance for telecommunications permitted development in order to allow planning authorities to apply a precautionary principle in sensitive areas until the full non-thermal health effects of mobile phone radiation have been established. [100267]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Government are aware of public concern about mobile phone systems and health and have set up an independent expert group to advise on possible risks to public health. The group, chaired by Sir William Stewart FRS, FRSE, is currently holding open meetings around the UK to take views.
My Department issued for consultation the draft of a joint circular with the Department of Health on land use planning and electro-magnetic fields (EMFs). The draft circular provides advice to local planning authorities in deciding applications for development giving rise to EMFs, such as telecommunications base stations. The guidance will be finalised as soon as practicable.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received in the last six months regarding(a) the conduct of mobile phone companies, (b) their applications for new mast sites and (c) such applications by Orange PCS. [100266]
§ Ms Beverley HughesMy Department has received correspondence concerning the amenity and health aspects of the siting of telecommunications masts proposed by the different mobile phone operators, including Orange plc.
§ Mr. NormanTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what proportion of mobile phone masts erected in the United Kingdom in the last 24 months have been shared by licence holders. [100263]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe Department's Circular 4/99, "Planning for Telecommunications", makes clear the Government's expectation that developers should provide the local planning authority (LPA) with clear evidence that they have fully considered the use of existing masts, buildings and other structures before seeking to erect any new mast. If this evidence is not considered satisfactory, the LPA may be justified in refusing approval of the mast's siting. The information on shared masts is not available in the form requested. However, the mobile operators have told us that one third of existing masts owned by them are shared.