§ Mr. Cryerasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the disturbances during the recent inquiry proceedings into his proposals for trunk road construction in Airedale; and what measures he contemplates taking to secure that the views of objectors may be heard and recorded in a more orderly manner.
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§ Mr. John SilkinMy right hon. Friend was aware that there was much uncertainty in Airedale about the effect of these proposals. When the inquiry was opened on 4th November 1975, well in advance of the date of any decision he might need to make on the proposals, it was with the intention that any objections made to the proposals should be recorded and presented to him in the fullest detail. It is, therefore, all the more regrettable that over the past three months representative local bodies and individual members of the public have been denied the opportunity to put forward their reasoned arguments by the action of people who, in the name of freedom, have denied to others the exercise of rights guaranteed to them by law and custom.
The inquiry has been subject to disruption which has made it impossible for the inspector to carry it forward; and it is deplorable that when, as a last resort, he reverted to the arrangements explained in reply to my hon. Friend's Questions on 20th January—[Vol. 903, c. 385–8]—certain people forced entry to the inquiry room and caused personal injury and damage to property.
In this situation, my right hon. Friend has decided in the very special circumstances of Airedale to convene a fresh inquiry in a location and under arrangements which will provide better safeguards against irresponsible interference with the orderly conduct of the democratic processes on which our inquiry procedures are based.
A further announcement will be made about the new inquiry.