MoD flouts National Park over Missile Defence
3 February 2003
The National Parks watchdog the Council for National Parks (CNP1) has criticised the Ministry of Defence (MoD) over its hasty decision to allow the USA to use Fylingdales in the North York Moors National Park as part of its Missile Defence programme.
“The MoD has yet to complete essential environmental research into the possible effects of the proposed Missile Defence installation at Fylingdales” said Donna O'Brien, military specialist at CNP. “It has said ‘yes’ to the USA very prematurely and has not taken enough account of the National Park in its decision. The Ministry of Defence has made a nonsense of public consultation and has failed to address major uncertainties surrounding the possible environmental impact on the National Park.
The House of Commons Defence Committee published a report last week into how the MoD had handled the USA’s proposals for Missile Defence and roundly condemned the MoD for its lack of public consultation2.
“The Defence Secretary had promised a public and parliamentary discussion on the issue3-and then went ahead and agreed to the USA request when the public discussion had hardly begun. A thorough and transparent approach is needed. Fylingdales is in a National Park where environmental protection4 is fundamentally important.”
Donna O'Brien concluded, “The Government has good rules for consulting the public and appraising the environmental impact of major projects5. The MoD said it would follow them, and then ignored them. The MoD should provide an immediate and full explanation as to why it has flouted National Park guidelines”
Contact: Ruth Chambers 020 7924 4077 ext 222
Notes to editors
The Council for National Parks is the national charity that works to protect and enhance the National Parks of England and Wales, and areas that merit National Park status, and promote understanding and quiet enjoyment of them for the benefit of all.
The House of Commons Defence Committee’s First Report of Session 2002-03 Missile Defence Volume 1 states “…we deplore the manner in which the public debate on the issue of the upgrade has been handled by the Ministry of Defence. “ (page 9 paragraph 11)
The Secretary of State for Defence said he was keen that the request from the United States for the use of Fylingdales for missile defence was “to be informed by public and parliamentary discussion” on 17 December 2002. Similar sentiments were expressed in the discussion document on Missile Defence issued by the MoD on 9 December 2002.
The House of Commons Defence Committee’s First Report of Session 2002-03 Missile Defence Volume 1 states “The MoD must now grasp this opportunity to clarify Fylingdales’ role and its environmental impact” (paragraph 66 page 25)
The Cabinet Office Consultation Code of Practice aims to increase the involvement of people and groups in public consultations, and to give them a proper time - a standard minimum period of twelve weeks – to respond.
Paragraph 56 of Circular 12/96 states:
“… the Government … is … committed to ensuring that new, renewed or intensified use of land in the National Parks for defence purposes should be subject to formal consultation with the National Park Authorities and the Countryside Commission (now the Countryside Agency) and to an environmental impact assessment, and should be tested against any provisions set out in planning policy guidance.”
A policy statement by the Secretary of State for Defence in July 2000 committed the MoD to follow the planning system as closely as possible: “Departmental standards and arrangements are to be introduced which will be, so far as is reasonably practical, at least as good as those required by legislation. I will only invoke any powers given to me to disapply legislation on the grounds of national security when such action is absolutely essential for the maintenance of operational capability”.
For press queries please contact:
Ruth Chambers, Head of Policy on
020 7924 4077 ext. 222