§ Mr. DoddsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for planning for telecommunication masts have been approved in(a) Northern Ireland and (b) North Belfast in each year since 1997. [125843]
§ Angela SmithIt is not possible from planning service's records to distinguish between applications solely for telecommunications masts and applications for all other telecommunications equipment. The number of planning approvals for telecommunications equipment since 1997, in Northern Ireland and in North Belfast, is as follows:
Applications approved in Northern Ireland since 1997 Year Total number of telecommunications equipment
1997–98 152 1998–99 96 1999–2000 169 2000–01 424 2001–02 324 2002–03 232 1 April 2003 to 30 June 2003 27 Total 1,099
Applications approved in North Belfast since 1997: Year Total number of telecommunications equipment
1997–98 0 1998–99 3 1999–2000 5 2000–01 10 2001–02 11 2002–03 3 1 Apr 2003 to 30 June 2003 0 Total 32