Devon County Structural Plan (Hansard, 11 March 1992)

§ Mr. Steen
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given to inviting Devon's hon. Members to participate and give evidence to the public examination of the Devon county structural plan on 24 March; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Yeo
It is normal practice to invite MPs to participate in an examination in public only if they had expressed an interest in the submitted proposals for alteration. Any request to participate will be considered by the panel chairman.

§ Mr. Steen
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the criteria on which the participation list for the public examination of the Devon county structural plan on 24 March was drawn up; and who was consulted.

§ Mr. Yeo
In selecting participants for an examination in public, the basic criterion will be the significance of the contribution which, from their knowledge or the views they have expressed, they can be expected to make to the discussion of the matters to be examined. The examination is not directed to hearing objections, and it is not intended that all those who have objected should be invited to attend.
The list of selected matters and invited participants was produced in consultation with the panel chairman, as is normal practice. It was advertised by Devon county council on 16 January. The four-week period during which representations could be made ended on 13 February.

§ Mr. Steen
To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration was given to including voluntary amenity and environmental groups from Devon localities in the public examination of Devon county structural plan; and if he will invite the South Hams Amenity Federation to give evidence.

§ Mr. Yeo
In drawing up the list of participants for an examination in public, the aim is to select particpants who between them represent a broad range of viewpoints. A number of local environmental and amenity groups, including the Council for the Protection of Rural England, Devon Green party, Devon Friends of the Earth and Devon Conservation Forum have been invited to participate. It was decided that those participants invited to the examination, along with the written representations already received—including those of the South Hams Amenity Federation—would provide sufficient information for a decision to be reached on the alteration proposals.
No further representations were received from the South Hams Amenity Federation during the four-week period for comments to be made about the published draft list of selected matters and invited participants. However, the chairman of the panel has assured me that any late request by the federation will be treated sympathetically.