HC Deb 03 December 1959 vol 614 cc162-3W
Mr. H. Wilson

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what is the normal period which elapses between the notification in the London Gazette of a proposed closure order under Section 18 of the Coast Protection Act, 1949, and the holding of the inquiry.

Mr. H. Brooke

Publication of the council's intention to make an order is followed by a period during which objections may be lodged. When this has expired, the coast protection authority must decide whether to ask for confirmation of the order. The inquiry—where one is necessary—usually follows about six months after the first publication in theLondon Gazette, but the period may vary widely from case to case.

Mr. H. Wilson

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs, in how many cases a local authority has made an emergency order under the Coast Protection Act, 1949, and failed to follow such an order with an immediate permanent order; and what steps he has taken to investigate the necessity for an emergency order in such cases.

Mr. H. Brooke

I know of two cases. In one the coast protection authority, after making an interim order, decided that there was no need to continue control over the excavation of beach material, and, therefore, took no steps to make a permanent order.

In a second case there was an interval of three months after the expiration of the interim order before the authority first advertised its intention to make a permanent order, although the authority had been engaged for some time in preparing a permanent order. It falls to the Minister to consider an interim order only if there are objections to it. No objections were received in either of the two cases referred to.