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ENVIRONMENT
Telecommunications Masts and Wind Turbines
Mr. Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning restrictions there are on the number of telecommunications masts erected in a particular area. [21415]
Sir Paul Beresford: The erection of masts by telecommunications code system operators is subject either to full planning control or the prior approval procedure under part 24 of schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, depending on the size and location of the mast. There are no specific limits on numbers.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many representations he has received from (a) South Somerset council and (b) Ryedale council in Yorkshire about planning applications for telecommunications masts. [21416]
Sir Paul Beresford: In the past two years, the Department has received one representation each from South Somerset district council and Ryedale district council.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the impact of (i) telecommunications masts and (ii) wind farms on the number of visitors to rural areas. [21410]
Sir Paul Beresford: My Department has not commissioned or evaluated research of this nature.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to review the section of planning policy guidance note 8 dealing with the erection of telecommunications masts. [21406]
Sir Paul Beresford: My Department has no plans for reviewing this guidance. However, we shall shortly be publishing a code of practice on the planning procedures for the erection of masts under permitted development rights. This has been prepared jointly with local authority associations and the major operators who erect masts.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what planning regulations apply to telecommunications masts which are under 15 ft high.[21413]
Sir Paul Beresford: Part 24 of schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted development) Order 1995 gives permitted development rights for telecommunications code system operators' masts up to 15 m high, except in protected areas such as conservation areas, national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, where full planning control applies. These rights are subject to a prior approval procedure which enables a local planning authority to give or refuse approval for the siting or appearance of a mast within 28 days of receipt of an application from an operator.
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Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what statutory protection is provided to areas on the outskirts of areas of outstanding natural beauty from (a) telecommunication masts and (b) telecommunications masts less than 100 ft high. [21417]
Sir Paul Beresford: The erection of masts by telecommunications code system operators in these adjoining areas is subject to either to full planning control or the prior approval procedure under part 24 of schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, depending on the size and location of the mast. The fact that it is visible from a specially protected area could be a material consideration in a planning decision relating to a mast.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has to require companies which erect telecommunications masts to share these masts with other companies. [21405]
Sir Paul Beresford: My Department already encourages mast sharing in planning policy guidance note 8, "Telecommunications". It is also a condition of the licences granted by the Department of Trade and Industry to mobile operators that the possibility of sharing an existing radio site must be explored.
Mr. Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment he has made of the extent to which satellite technology will supersede telecommunications masts and over what time scale. [21407]
Sir Paul Beresford: My Department understands that, because radio frequencies are limited, satellite technology is unsuited to telephone systems which handle a great many calls simultaneously.
Tree Felling
Mr. Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment how many appeals he has considered in each of the last five years under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 against refusals of local authorities to grant consent to fell trees; how many of these appeals he has upheld; and how many of his Department's staff are involved in work on these appeals. [21573]
Mr. Clappison: Separate information on appeals relating to felling only is not readily available. However, the table shows all appeals on tree-related matters considered by the Secretary of State under the 1990 Act in each of the last five financial years, and those upheld by him in the years for which figures are available. Work on these appeals forms a part of the responsibilities of several staff in the Department, and especially in the Government offices for the regions. The total annual staff effort currently involved is about 10 person years.
| Year | Appeals considered | Appeals upheld |
|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 (to date) | 396 | 141 |
| 1994-95 | 401 | 120 |
| 1993-94 | 383 | not applicable |
| 1992-93 | 349 | not applicable |
| 1991-92 | 331 | not applicable |
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Mining and Quarrying Waste
Mr. Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what joint working groups he has established with the mining and quarrying industries on the subject of mining and quarrying waste. [21735]
Mr. Clappison: There have been two formal joint working groups in the past to look at disposal of quarrying spoil and underground stowage in North-East Leicestershire. Other mining and quarrying issues, including waste, are covered in less formal discussions between the Department, the mining and quarrying industries and other interested parties where necessary as they arise.
Parliamentary Questions
Mr. Donohoe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the average cost of answering an (a) and (b) written parliamentary question form (i) Opposition and (ii) Conservative hon. Members to each Session since 1989-90. [21813]
Sir Paul Beresford: This Department does not collect the information in the form requested.
Rough Sleepers
Mr. Hinchliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to enable local authorities to (a) quantify the extent of rough sleeping in their areas, (b) examine the causes of rough sleeping in their areas, (c) analyse the extent to which the needs of the homeless are catered for and (d) review the effectiveness of existing local strategy and the role of the public, private and voluntary sectors. [20874]
Mr. Clappison: It is the responsibility of every local authority to consider the housing needs of all its residents. The current "Housing Strategies" guidance advises local authorities to assess the resources within their area for single homeless people, including authorities' own provision and the contribution being made by others, including the private sector, housing associations, and voluntary sector organisations. The guidance also advises that, to assist this assessment, local authorities may wish to consider undertaking a count of rough sleepers, involving street agencies as appropriate.
The strategy paper "Rough Sleepers Initiative: The Next Challenge", issued by the Government on 4 March 1996 announced that the successful rough sleepers initiative would be extended outside central London to Bristol where a recent single night head count had found 84 people sleeping rough. Twenty-three other local authorities were invited to let my Department know if they would like assistance in undertaking a detailed evaluation of the number of people sleeping rough in their area, including an assessment of current services available. These counts will be undertaken in partnership with local agencies wherever possible.
South Oxfordshire (Computing Services)
Mrs. Anne Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what was the cost to public funds of (a) South Oxfordshire district council's failed contract for computing services and (b) earlier development work by John McLintock's company; [21106]
21 Mar 1996 : Column: 270
- (2) what reasons have been given by South Oxfordshire district council for terminating the contract for computing services; and what was the original expiry date; [21107]
(3) what severance arrangements South Oxfordshire district council has made with the contractor for computing services; and what payment has been made to (a) the owner and (b) his company; [21108]
(4) if the district auditor has been asked to report on the quality of computing services purchased by South Oxfordshire district council. [21109]
Sir Paul Beresford: These are matters for South Oxfordshire district council to whom these questions should be put in the first instance. If there are doubts about the propriety or value for money for the contract in question they should be raised with the authority's external auditor.
Mrs. Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implications for the privatisation of local government services of the contracting out of computing services by South Oxfordshire district council. [21105]
Sir Paul Beresford: Authorities are free to contract out elements of their computer services subject to their obligations under EU and domestic legislation. As from 1 April 1999, South Oxfordshire district council will be required to subject part of its information technology services to compulsory competitive tendering.
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