§ Lord ALDINGTONMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government why, during a public inquiry held to consider the location of a proposed converter station for the electricity link with France, it was announced that they had given approval for the construction of that station at Sellindge in Kent; whether such approval has been given; and whether they are aware of the effect of such a statement, at such a time, on public confidence in the public inquiry system.
The MINISTER of STATE, DEPARTMENT of EMPLOYMENT (The Earl of Gowrie)My Lords, during the inquiry an unpublished document containing an inaccurate statement alleging Government approval for a converter station at Sellindge was given in evidence. Government approval in principle was given in August 1978 for an electricity link with France. This approval, however, related to the project in general and not to any particular construction on any particular site. I am assured by the originators of the document quoted that the error will be corrected before publication.
§ Lord ALDINGTONMy Lords, in thanking my noble friend for his reply, may I ask whether he can please reassure us that the Government are aware, and will communicate their awareness to public authorities, of the damage to public confidence if statements such as this are made during an inquiry? The inquiry has necessarily cost the local residents quite a lot of money, and they have already seen signs—for example, roads have been altered and road and bridge plans have been altered—suggesting that that particular statement was right and that the Government have approved the location at Sellindge.
The Earl of GOWRIEMy Lords, I absolutely agree with my noble friend that the tendency to leak things and then to bring the leaks forward in evidence is damaging to the whole procedure of sensible planning decisions.
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, will the Government not agree that, wherever the converter station is located, nevertheless an electricity link with France will be of great benefit to our two countries?
The Earl of GOWRIEMy Lords, I would rather take that view, but of course we have made a decision only about this in principle. The details about costs, investment decisions, or what liaison with France herself would be involved have not yet been arrived at.