§ Sir J. Henderson-Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the dispute about the compulsory acquisition of the Westhurn Lane site for the extension of St. Andrews University.
§ Mr. MaclayIn view of the fact that it has proved impossible to resolve this dispute locally, and bearing in mind the importance of the issues involved, I have decided that a local inquiry should be held in order to ascertain whether the circumstances call for action on my part under Section 96 (4) of the Town and108W Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1947. Such action, if decided upon in the light of the inquiry, would take the form of an Order requiring the Town Council to take specified steps for acquiring the land in question for the purpose of securing its use for development by St. Andrews University. Arrangements for the inquiry, which will be conducted in public by an independent Commissioner whose report will be made generally available, will be intimated to the parties concerned and advertised in the Press in due course.