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Telecommunications Masts
Mr. Jenkin: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, pursuant to his decision in respect of the appeal by Orange PCS Ltd. for a telecommunications mast on land at Gun Hill Industrial Estate, Dedham (Ref. COL/96/1259) if he will make a statement on its compatibility with planning guidance for masts in or near areas of outstanding natural beauty and other sensitive areas. [15349]
Mr. Raynsford:
My right hon. Friend issued his decision allowing a telecommunications mast at Gun Hill, Essex, on 28 October 1997. The reasons for allowing the appeal were set out in the decision letter, which was sent to the hon. Gentleman. These decisions took into account the relevant policies in the Essex Structure Plan and the
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Colchester Borough Local Plan and current guidance set out in Planning Policy Guidance Notes 7 and 8, relating to development in the countryside and the provision of telecommunications facilities.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what assessment he has made of the adequacy of planning guidance on telecommunications masts in respect of protection afforded to sensitive areas such as areas of outstanding natural beauty. [15348]
Mr. Raynsford:
Current planning policy guidance on telecommunications development is set out in planning policy guidance note 8--PPG8 revised. That guidance reflects our general policy of facilitating the growth of new and existing telecommunications systems while
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protecting the environment. Those objectives include the protection of the countryside and urban areas, especially designated areas such as National Parks, areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and conservation areas.
Mr. Jenkin:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many mobile telecommunications masts have been constructed in (a) the Borough of Colchester and (b) Tendring District. [15347]
Mr. Raynsford:
This information is not collected centrally. However, the Government consider it desirable that the number of telecommunications masts is kept to a minimum. Wherever possible, we would wish to see good use made of existing masts and other structures for the installation of new antennas.
Mr. Baker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions if he will list the percentages of each county covered by ancient woodland in (a) 1986 and (b) 1996 or other available years. [14535]
Angela Eagle:
Figures held by English Nature, showing the change in percentage cover of ancient woodland by Count, since 1930, are as follows (figures are not available for 1986):
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Air Quality
Mr. Truswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what steps he is taking to implement the National Air Quality Strategy.[15741]
Mr. Meacher: I am pleased to announce that the Air Quality Regulations 1997 have been laid today. These regulations will set the National Air Quality Strategy objectives in statutory form and initiate the system of local air quality management under Part IV of the Environment Act 1995. I also announced in July that this Government would initiate an immediate review of the National Air Quality Strategy. This review will look at all aspects of the Strategy, including the objectives themselves and the measures required to meet them.
DEFENCE
Military Training and Equipment
Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the Kenyan Government meet the criteria established to assess the suitability of overseas security forces to receive military training and military equipment from the United Kingdom. [15200]
Dr. Reid: The Kenyan armed forces satisfy the criteria used to determine the suitability of overseas security forces to receive military training from the United Kingdom. Any application for a licence to export defence equipment to Kenya would, as for all countries, be considered on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Government's export criteria which were announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, column65-66.
Mr. Stinchcombe: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if the list of those countries qualifying to receive military training and equipment from the United Kingdom is to be reviewed to take account of the Government's ethical foreign policy. [15201]
Dr. Reid:
The review of the list of countries qualifying to receive military training will take account of the Government's ethical foreign policy. The list relates solely to military assistance. Applications for the export of defence equipment to all countries are considered in accordance with the Government's export criteria, announced by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 28 July 1997, Official Report, columns 65-66.
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Mr. Stinchcombe:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment is made of potential future human rights violations by overseas Governments applying for military training or equipment from the United Kingdom before such applications are granted. [15199]
Dr. Reid:
The possibility of the training requested leading to human rights violations is one of the factors taken into account in considering whether such applications should be granted. In the case of conventional arms exports, licence applications are considered taking into account respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in the recipient country. An export licence will not be issued if there is a clearly identifiable risk that the proposed export might be used for internal repression.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the expenditure by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on official hospitality for (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1987-88, (iii) 1990-91, (iv) 1991-92, (v) 1992-93, (vi) 1993-94, (vii) 1994-95, (viii) 1995-96, (ix) 1996-97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997. [15266]
Dr. Reid:
The request for figures on hospitality expenditure before 1992-93 can be provided only at disproportionate cost. The figures for total expenditure for the years 1992-93 to 30 September 1997 are listed below:
| £ million | |
|---|---|
| (i) 1992-93 | 4.952 |
| (ii) 1993-94 | 4.577 |
| (iii) 1994-95 | 4.867 |
| (iv) 1995-96 | 4.949 |
| (v) 1996-97 | 5.327 |
| (vI) 1 May 1997 to 30 September 1997 | 2.034 |
These figures reflect expenditure incurred by my Department, the establishments and formations of the Armed Forces at home and abroad, and by individual officers occupying Command and international appointments for which entertainment allowances were payable. Entertainment expenditure for agencies and non-departmental public bodies are included in these figures and are not held separately.
Overseas Travel
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the expenditure by (a) his Department, (b) its agencies and (c) its non-departmental public bodies on overseas travel for (i) 1980-81, (ii) 1987-88, (iii) 1990-91, (iv) 1991-92, (v) 1992-93, (vi) 1993-94, (vii) 1994-95, (viii) 1995-96, (ix) 1996-97 and (x) 1 May to 30 September 1997; and if he will provide a breakdown to show (1) air fares and (2) other expenditure relating to overseas travel. [15267]
Dr. Reid:
This information is not held centrally and could be provided, if at all, only at disproportionate cost.
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