Mobile Phone Masts

1.34.19pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 17th Mar 2005

MP Vincent Cable was, he said, 'amazed' when he asked a question in Deputy Prime Minister's questions yesterday to discover that the government is to review its whole policy on telecoms masts.

He had put down a question in response to pressures from residents faced with controversial mast proposals in Whitton (the telephone exchange mast near St Edmunds), Hampton (Ashley Road opposite Hampton Junior school) and Hampton Wick (in Upper Teddington Road); he asked the government to explain how many mast planning applications were being rejected on grounds of the "public perceptions of health risk". To his surprise, the minister (Yvette Cooper - John Prescott's deputy) announced that the government had decided to review the whole policy in the light of recent court rulings:

"This is good news for those residents who are worried about masts close to homes and schools. Although we do not know what the review outcome is, it is almost certain that councils will be given greater discretion and I hope public fears will be taken more into account".

6. Dr. Vincent Cable (Twickenham) (LD): In how many planning appeals inspectors have rejected applications for mobile phone masts on the ground of the public perception of health risk. [221852]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (Yvette Cooper): We do not keep that information centrally.

Dr. Cable: Does the Minister not acknowledge the uncertainty created by Government planning guidance that allows the public perception of health risks, but not the health risks themselves, to be an objection to the siting of telecom masts? Will she allow councils greater discretion over the siting of masts in sensitive locations such as near schools, in order to reduce this problem?

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Yvette Cooper: The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the recent Harrogate court case, in which the court found against the Government. We have always maintained that health can be a material consideration in planning cases. The Stewart report concludes that health risks should be considered at national level, but we are certainly reviewing the position in the light of the court judgment.