HC Deb 16 February 1989 vol 147 cc281-2W
Mr. Robert Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the average time from the date of the decision to hold a public inquiry to the date when he announces his verdict on the inspector's report.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

The length of time between the announcement of a public inquiry and the issuing of the decision letter by the Secretaries of State for Environment and for Transport depends on a number of factors. The main ones are the length and complexity of the scheme, the duration of the inquiry, the length of the inspector's report and the time taken to deliver it, and the implications of the inspector's recommendations.

Twenty-nine inquiries into trunk road schemes were held in 1987 (the last year for which all inspectors' reports have been received). The Secretaries of State have yet to issue decisions on five major schemes: M3 Bar End-Compton, M40 Waterstock-Wendlebury, A1 Bramham-Wetherby and Wetherby-Dishforth (consecutive inquiries) and A6(M) Stockport North-South bypass. Of the remaining 24, the distribution of times taken between announcement of the inquiry and issuing of the decision letter was as follows:

Announcement—Decision
Months Number of Schemes
1–3 —
4–6 4
7–9 7
9–12 8
13–18 4
over 19 1

Mr. Robert Banks

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the number of public inquiries held during the last year into road proposals; what was their average duration; and what was the total cost.

Mr. Peter Bottomley

Thirty-two inquiries into trunk road schemes were held in 1988. The following is a breakdown of lengths of inquiry:

Length Number of Inquiries
1 day 6
2–5 days 8
1–2 weeks 5
2 weeks-1 month 5
1–3 months 6
3–6 months 1
6 months-1 year 1

The direct costs of the facilities necessary for these inquiries (accommodation, photocopying etc.) came to £700,000. The figures for individual inquiries range between £285 and £370,000. Including counsel's and inspector's fees, the costs to the Department vary between £1 million and £2 million annually. It is not possible to assess the indirect costs of departmental and consultants' staff.