HC Deb 25 June 2002 vol 387 cc744-5W
Mr. Salter

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if in future he will place in the Library copies of submissions made to local planning authorities concerning the atomic weapons establishments as they occur, and inform the House as they are deposited. [63451]

Dr. Moonie

No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence complies with Department of the Environment Circular 18/84 (Town and Country Planning Act 1984) in a similar manner to all Government Departments, non-Department authorities and other Crown bodies regarding submitting and advertising of Notices of Proposed Development (NOPD). The local planning authority treats the NOPD in the same way as they do a planning application submitted under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990. NOPDs are advertised in the local press by the planning authority in the same manner as a planning application. Standard orange Notices from the planning authority are displayed at the gates of AWE Aldermaston and at the entrance to The Mearings at AWE Burghfield for the statutory 21 days. The public are at liberty to view and purchase copies of all Notices and the outcome of same from the local planning authority.