§ Mr. Llew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations his Department has received in the last year in respect of planning applications and permissions granted for the erection of telecommunications masts; and what is his policy on the erection of such masts. [116970]
§ Ms Beverley HughesMy Department has received centrally in the last year some 350 letters about amenity and health aspects of planning applications and permissions granted for telecommunications masts.
The Government's general policy on telecommunications is to facilitate the growth of new and existing telecommunications systems while keeping environmental impact to a minimum. The planning system is the mechanism for achieving that balance. Government planning policy for telecommunications is set out in Planning Policy Guidance note 8: Telecommunications and the Department's Circular 4/99 "Planning for Telecommunications". The draft joint DETR/DH circular on "Land Use Planning and Electromagnetic Fields" will be finalised as soon as practicable after the Independent Expert Group on Mobile Phones has published its report in May.