Mr. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to review the planning requirements as regards the siting of mobile telephone masts. [95679]
§ Ms Beverley HughesThe provisions of Part 24 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GPDO) which govern the installation of mobile telephone masts were amended earlier this year by SI 1999 No. 1661. Guidance on these changes is contained in DETR Circular 04/99 which complements Planning Policy Guidance note 8 (revised) (PPG8) on telecommunications. In December 1998 the Department issued for consultation a draft circular prepared jointly with the Department of Health on land use planning and electromagnetic fields. We are currently considering the responses received.