§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what provision is available to compensate parties whose legal costs become nugatory when a planning public inquiry has to be recommenced with a new inspector due to the long-term illness of the original planning inspector; and if he will make a statement. [45438]
§ Mr. RaynsfordThere is no provision for reimbursing parties for expenses incurred in participating in a planning inquiry which is not completed due to the illness of the Inspector. The Planning Inspectorate normally agrees to meet the cost of any reasonable additional or wasted expenses where the Inspectorate accepts that it has been at fault. However, the Inspectorate is not prepared to entertain claims relating to circumstances beyond its control.