§ Mr. Hurdasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what reply he is sending to representations asking him to hold a public inquiry into the grant of planning permission by the Oxfordshire County Council for the extraction of gravel from Watkins Farm, Northmore, Oxon.
§ Mr. MarksA number of representations have been received by the Department about the proposed development. The replies sent stress the responsibility placed by Parliament on local planning authorities for determining planning applications and indicate that only in the most exceptional circumstances would my right hon. Friend consider intervention. Since these replies were drafted, the planning application has been referred to the Department by the county council for my right hon. Friend's consideration of the question of departure from the provisions of the county development plan. I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's decision in the matter.