§ 28. Mr. Duffyasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of his Department's failure adequately to publicise the public inquiry into the proposed Mosborough expressway, he will review his Department's methods of publicising such inquiries.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for the Environment (Mr. Keith Speed)The Department gave six weeks' notice of the public inquiry by means of advertisements in the Press and the placing of notices on the land. This appears to be quite adequate.
§ Mr. DuffyIn view of the enormous and often adverse effects which his Department's decisions have on the quality of life of individual citizens today, is the Minister satisfied that the present arrangements for publicising those decisions and of providing for opportunities to make objections to them are sufficient to have full impact on those most affected, given the complexities of life today? For example, in addition to advertisements in the local Press why did he not take time on Yorkshire Television?
§ Mr. SpeedMy right hon. Friend has it in mind where there are very large schemes with major impact, to enable further publicity to be given, so as perhaps to exceed the statutory requirements for publicity. As to television, I think that is a separate point. It has not been considered in the past, but the local Press and the London Gazette carried a very considerable number of advertisements on this scheme. Six weeks' notice seemed quite adequate.
§ Mr. AshtonIs the Minister aware that I do not read the London Gazette but that I live only 200 yards away from the expressway? Instead of just having notices stuck on trees, why could not we have had letters sent to our homes?
§ Mr. SpeedI do not know at which trees the hon. Member was looking. The Sheffield Star and the Sheffield Morning Telegraph which, presumably, the hon. Member does read, carried a number of advertisements about this.