HC Deb 05 March 2004 vol 418 cc1203-4W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when the Department is planning to release Planning Policy Guidance Note 10; and if he will make a statement. [159036]

Keith Hill

Planning Policy Guidance Note 10 "Planning and Waste Management" will be replaced by a planning policy statement in line with the update of the PPG series. The aim is to consult on a draft of the new PPS10 in the first half of this year.

Mr. Chidgey

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what plans he has to bring forward proposals for legislation to ensure that companies providing water and sewerage services are made statutory consultees to local authorities in the planning process. [159124]

Keith Hill

Water and sewerage undertakers will be statutory consultees on local development documents under the new arrangements being introduced under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill.

Local authorities are advised to consult water and sewerage undertakers on planning applications. These non-statutory arrangements appear to be working satisfactorily and will continue.

Andy King

To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what action the Department has taken to ensure there is full consultation with(a) schools and residents in close proximity to and (b) local authorities responsible for proposed sites of Tetra masts. [159377]

Keith Hill

Current planning guidance for all electronic communication developments is set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 8 (revised) (PPG8). The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has also issued a Code of Best Practice on Mobile Phone Network Development.

PPG8 requires that where a base station site is on or near a school the operator consults the relevant body of the school or college prior to submitting an application to the local planning authority. The Code sets out the factors that should be taken into account by network operators and local planning authorities in determining whether a school or college should be consulted.

PPG8 also strongly encourages telecommunications operators and local planning authorities to carry out annual discussions about rollout plans for each authority's area. The Code includes more detailed recommendations for managing the relationship between mobile operators and local planning authorities and the process of public consultation.