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5. ORAL QUESTIONS (continued)
5.1 Deputy D.W. Mezbourian of St. Lawrence of the Minister for Housing regarding consultation with the Planning and Environment Department on the proximity of telephone masts and base units to States rental accommodation:
Will the Assistant Minister advise what consultation, if any, has taken place with the Planning and Environment Department to ascertain the proximity of any telephone masts and base units to all States' rental accommodation in the Island?
Deputy J.A. Hilton of St. Helier (Assistant Minister for Housing): The simple answer to the question for the Deputy is none.
- Deputy D.W. Mezbourian :
I am sure that following that response the Assistant Minister will expect me to stand up and ask a supplementary, which I am happy to do. The supplementary, Sir, is for the Assistant Minister to advise the House of the number of tenants there are who are in States' rental accommodation and to also advise the House that if no consultation has taken place with the Planning Department to find out the proximity of phone masts and base units to States' rental accommodation, is the department satisfied that there will be no adverse health implications to those tenants who may be living in close proximity to the phone masts or base units?
Deputy J.A. Hilton:
There are approximately 13,000 Housing Department tenants. Did the Deputy [Interruption] If the Deputy could repeat the second part of her question?
- Deputy D.W. Mezbourian :
Thank you for confirming that there are about 13,000 States' tenants. The second part of the question was; is the department satisfied that there will be no adverse health implications to those tenants from the close proximity of phone masts or base units to rental accommodation, bearing in mind that there has been no discussion between Housing and Planning and Environment to ascertain how close these units are to States' accommodation?
Deputy J.A. Hilton:
My response to that question is at the current time the Housing Department only have one mobile mast directly on Housing Department premises which is due to be demolished in the New Year - which is down at Le Marais - which was placed on our properties several years ago without any consultation with ourselves. With regard to the question of whether we are satisfied that there are no health risks to our tenants, I do not feel that I am in a position to really answer that question. I think that is a question that needs to be answered by the Health Department.
- Deputy G.C.L. Baudains of St. Clement :
I wonder if the Assistant Minister could just clarify the answer she has just given. In relation to masts, the number located on or in States' rental accommodation including perhaps those operated by trusts, I believe there is more than one.
Deputy J.A. Hilton:
The question to the department was about masts located in the proximity of Housing Department premises. So my answer remains the same as before. I am aware that there is one mast currently on Housing Department premises which is due to be demolished in the New Year.
- Deputy D.W. Mezbourian :
Would the Deputy confirm then that States' tenants may take no comfort from the fact that the Health Department can confirm or otherwise that there are no adverse health implications to them should they be living in close proximity to these units?
Deputy J.A. Hilton:
I am sorry, Sir, I really do not feel that I am in the position to answer on behalf of the Health Department.
- Senator L. Norman:
I wonder if the Assistant Minister could tell us why the mast at Le Marais is being demolished. Does the Department or the Minister have some health concerns about it?
Deputy J.A. Hilton:
Absolutely not, Sir. That is not the reason it is being demolished. It is part of the redevelopment of Le Marais phase 2. The actual premises that the mast is situated on at the moment is going to be demolished for redevelopment, and that is the only reason.