HC Deb 05 February 2001 vol 362 cc385-7W
Mr. Green

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) how many mobile phone masts had been erected in (a) school grounds and (b) hospital grounds by (i) 1 January 2000 and (ii) 1 January 2001; [148528]

(2) what his estimate is of the number of mobile phone masts which will be erected on (a) school grounds and (b) hospital grounds in (i) 2001 and (ii) 2002; [148527]

(3) what estimate he has made of the number of new mobile phone masts which will be erected in (a) 2001, (b) 2002 and (c) 2003. [148529]

Ms Beverley Hughes

The Department does not hold information about the number or locations of existing mobile phone masts.

The Stewart Group recommended that a national database be set up by Government giving details of all base stations and their emissions. The Government have accepted this recommendation and are in the process of bringing together information on base station sites into a single co-ordinated database. This information will be made available to the public and local planning authorities.

The number of new masts required is dependent upon a range of factors. The Department is not in a position to give an estimate of the numbers which may be involved. This is a matter for the individual telecommunications operators. However, they are fully aware of the importance we attach to keeping the number of masts to the practicable minimum and to ensuring that those which are needed are designed and sited with sensitivity and care.

Mr. Green

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what recent representations he has received from(a) schools and (b) hospitals about the safety of mobile phone masts; [148524]

(2) what recent representations he has received from local authorities about the safety of mobile phone masts; and if he will make a statement. [148525]

Ms Beverley Hughes

In response to the recent consultation exercise seeking views on possible changes to the planning laws relating to telecommunications masts and associated guidance one response was received from a school, none from hospitals and 231 from local authority officials and Councillors.

Otherwise, the Department has received centrally in the last year one letter from a school, no letters from hospitals and 114 letters from local authority officials and Councillors about amenity or health aspects of mobile phone masts.

Mr. Green

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what percentage of mobile phone mast sites are used by more than one operator. [148531]

Ms Beverley Hughes

The Government's policy is firmly to encourage mast and site sharing where that is the optimum solution in the individual circumstances. Indeed, conditions attached to individual operating licences granted by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry include a requirement to investigate mast sharing before seeking to put up any new mast.

DETR Circular 4/99, "Planning for Telecommunications", makes clear our expectation that developers should provide evidence to local planning authorities that they have carefully considered the use of existing masts, buildings and other structures before seeking to erect any new mast, regardless of size. The authority may be justified in refusing prior approval or planning permissions if it considers the evidence regarding the consideration of such alternative sites is not satisfactory.

The Department has no information on site sharing but understands that there are approximately 9,000 mobile phone masts, of which 1,700 carry equipment from more than one operator.

Mr. Green

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list(a) the meetings between Ministers at his Department and representatives of the mobile phone industry, and (b) the Ministers present at each such meeting, between 1 January 2000 and 1 January 2001. [148530]

Ms Beverley Hughes

Ministers have extensive dealings with organisations in both the public and private sectors as part of their official duties.

It would be impractical to maintain a central record of such meetings.