HC Deb 06 July 1981 vol 8 c59W
Mr. Peter Mills

asked the Secretary of State for Transport, in view of the problems caused by illness at the Okehampton bypass inquiry, if he will in future have two inspectors at any inquiry.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

I have been very sorry to hear of the inspector's long illness, and am grateful to him for his determination to complete his report. This is the second case in the past three and a half years or so in which a report has been much delayed by the serious illness of the inspector. But well over 200 highway inquiries have been held in the same period, and I do not believe these two incidents, unfortunate as they are, could possibly justify the change suggested.