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Written question asked by Lembit Opik (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 3 May 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 May 2001. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 May 2001 on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

Dept of the Environment Transport and the Regions

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions, if his Department will incorporate the text of paragraph 9 to the annexe to Circular 2/92 in the final wording of the paper on `Safeguarding Aerodromes, Technical Sites and Military Explosives Storage Areas'; and if he will make a statement; what measures his Department proposes to take to ensure the continued protection of (a) gliding sites and (b) other unlicensed aerodromes provided for in paragraph 9 of the annexe to Circular 2/92; and if he will make a statement; what plans his Department has to change its policy on the unofficial safeguarding of gliding sites; and if he will make a statement.
Answer

Mr. Opik: To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) if his Department will incorporate the text of paragraph 9 to the annexe to Circular 2/92 in the final wording of the paper "Safeguarding Aerodromes, Technical Sites and Military Explosives Storage Areas"; and if he will make a statement; [160710] (2) what measures his Department proposes to take to ensure the continued protection of (a) gliding sites and (b) other unlicensed aerodromes provided for in paragraph 9 of the annexe to Circular 2/92; and if he will make a statement; [160709] (3) what plans his Department has to change its policy on the unofficial safeguarding of gliding sites; and if he will make a statement. [160708] Mr. Robert Ainsworth: My Department is currently conducting a public consultation on a proposal to revise Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions Circular 2/92 on the safeguarding of aerodromes, technical sites and military explosives storage areas. The existing circular is concerned mainly with the role of local planning authorities in official safeguarding, but it also recommends a form of unofficial safeguarding to operators of other aerodromes and of gliding sites. No change of policy is proposed on the unofficial safeguarding of these other aerodromes or of gliding sites. But we envisage that instead of this brief reference in a departmental circular there will be a specific safeguarding publication to be issued by the Civil Aviation Authority. This will be addressed in particular to aerodromes licensed by the authority, but the advice will also be relevant to the operators of unlicensed aerodromes and of gliding sites. We will consider, in our further work on the revision of the circular, whether we should complement the Authority's advice with a recommendation to local planning authorities.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
368 c186W; 160710;160709;160708
Session
2000-01
Subjects
Airports Explosives Security Storage Safety
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk