§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what further measures he proposes to take to encourage mast sharing by telecommunication operators. [102095]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Code of Best Practice on Mobile Network Development was published on 11 November 2002. This firmly encourages mast and site sharing where that is the optimum solution in the individual circumstances. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has no plans to amend further the planning arrangements for telecommunications development at the present time.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has(a) made to and (b) received from local planning authorities in respect of telecommunication operators' commitment to participate in obligatory pre-rollout and pre-allocation consultation. [102094]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Government issued 'Planning Policy Guidance Note 8: Telecommunications' in August 2001 which strongly encourages telecommunications operators and local planning authorities to carry out annual discussions about rollout plans for each authority's area. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister also issued the 'Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development' in November 2002, which includes more detailed recommendations for managing the relationship between mobile operators and local planning authorities and the process of public consultation. The Code also contained the Mobile Operators' Ten Commitments, which includes the commitments to participate in pre-rollout and pre-application consultation with local authorities and improved consultation with local communities.
The Government receive many representations on matters relating to the telecommunications industry but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of any particular representations from local planning authorities on this subject.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what financial support the Government's independent scientific research programme on mobile communications health issues has received from telecommunication operators. [102096]
§ Mr. McNultyThe independent scientific research programme is costing £7.36 million of which private companies in the telecommunications sector are paying 50 per cent. (£3.68 million). More information about the research programme can be found at the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme website: www.mthr.org.uk.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what information his Department has gathered regarding the extent to which telecommunication operators have met their commitment to provide staff resources to respond to complaints and inquiries about radio base stations within 10 working days. [102097]
§ Mr. McNultyThe Mobile Operators Association have commissioned Deloitte and Touche to carry out 427W an independent review of the implementation of the Operators Ten Commitments. The results of the review will be made available to the public in due course.
§ Mr. HunterTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make it his policy to replace telecommunication operators' voluntary code of conduct with statutory regulation; and if he will make a statement. [102098]
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§ Mr. McNultyThere are no plans to replace the mobile phone Operators' Ten Commitments with statutory regulation. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will, however, continue to monitor the implementation of the Commitments and will keep the situation under review in light of experience and any new developments.