HC Deb 21 December 1979 vol 976 cc461-2W
Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the public inquiries held in Scotland over the last 10 years; what subjects they were on; which had pre-inquiry meetings; and which of these pre-inquiry meetings were advertised publicly.

Mr. Rifkind

The answer to the question cannot be ascertained without incurring disproportionate cost. Pre-inquiry meetings have been held in a very small proportion of cases and, as the purpose is to discuss procedure with parties who have already indicated an interest, it has not been the practice to advertise.

Mr. Foulkes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will describe the arrangements within the Scottish Office for ensuring that objections for consideration at any public inquiry are passed timeously to the inquiry reporter's office.

Mr. Rifkind

Representations are passed to the inquiry reporter's unit at the time that instructions are given to it to begin arrangements for the inquiry and, if received subsequently, after the related correspondence has been completed.