§ 171. Mr. O. Pooleasked the Minister of Town and Country Planning whether he will give an assurance that, at future inquiries under the New Towns Act, he will arrange that his Departmental representatives will submit their case in public with evidence, so that objectors may have an opportunity for criticism and cross-examination.
§ Mr. SilkinBefore I make an Order under Section 1 of the New Towns Act designating an area as the site of a new town, I have to be satisfied, after consultation with any local authorities who appear to me to be concerned, that to do so is expedient in the national interest. Clearly, I should not promulgate the draft of such an Order unless it appeared to me that this condition was fulfilled. This process necessarily involves much prior consultation with many interests, both national and local. If objections to the Draft Order are received and not withdrawn, a local inquiry must be held and its purpose is to enable me to consider objections in case they reveal something which has been overlooked.
I share the hon. Member's desire that the procedure at the inquiry should be such as will best achieve this particular object. I have, therefore, been reviewing the matter and I propose to arrange in future that in addition to my inspector, whose duty it is to report the objections to rile for my consideration, an officer of my Department will attend to explain the proposed project and the reasons which have lead to it. He will be there to explain the proposal, but not to be cross-examined.