§ Lord Melchettasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they agree with the view expressed by Mrs Lynda Chalker MP that, if there were objections to the proposed route of a new trunk road there would have to be a public inquiry; and whether her statement that "if there are objections to the proposed route, the public inquiry procedure will take 457WA place". (Official Report, Commons, 10/3/82; col. 840) applies to the proposed A.34 Whitway diversion; and, if not, why not.
§ The Earl of AvonThe decision whether to hold a public inquiry into a road scheme is only taken after consideration of any objections to the draft orders and of the particular circumstances of the case. My honourable friend was talking about the M.3 and the M.27 Swaythling Link road, to which the questioning in another place referred. I have explained to the noble Lord on numerous occasions why my right honourable friends decided to dispense with a public inquiry in the case of the Whitway diversion.