Mr. SahnondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give details of guidelines pertaining to notification times given to third parties in planning matters when a reporter is due to inspect a site; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what representations he has had regarding the adequacy of guidelines pertaining to notification times given to third parties in planning matters when a reporter is due to inspect a site; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 11 March 1992]: There is no statutory obligation for a reporter to notify third parties when he is due to inspect a site and there are therefore no guidelines. But the Scottish Office inquiry reporters unit normally informs third parties as a matter of courtesy. Site inspections can be arranged at short notice, but the unit normally gives parties two weeks' notice.
The Scottish Office inquiry reporters unit has had representations on a site inspection which was arranged at short notice at Memsie in Banff and Buchan. The two days' notice given to third parties in this case was shorter than normal and arose from the cancellation of another case.