§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to ensure that the owners of Barlaston Hall are not allowed to demolish it.
§ Mr. HeseltineStafford borough council has recently referred to me an application from the owners for listed building consent to demolish Barlaston Hall. The building is sufficiently important to justify the holding of a public inquiry into the matter and, as arrangements for this are now in hand, I cannot therefore comment on the merits of the application.