§ Mr. DafisTo ask the Lord President of the Council if he will make it his policy to prevent the use of the Private Bill procedure to bypass the planning channels in respect of developments which seriously affect designated sites of special scientific interest.
§ Mr. MacleanI have been asked to reply.
Private Bills are an established part of our constitutional process and in some cases provide the only means of obtaining the necessary consent. The Parliamentary Committees considering these Bills perform a quasi-judicial function similar to that of an inspector at a public local inquiry. This ensures that the conservation aspects are thoroughly and properly scrutinised and a balanced decision reached.