§ Mr. David Priceasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many public inquiries into the line of routes of motorways or trunk roads, with the consequential side roads on such motorways or trunk roads, were held in each of the last five years.
§ Dr. GilbertFollowing is the information requested:
these inquiries based substantially on existing practice have been made by my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor and came into operation on 10th June. This Department is reviewing other aspects of the procedures in consultation with the Council on Tribunals.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many individuals are regularly employed by his 375W Department as road development public inquiry inspectors; and what is the average number of public inquiries over which they have presided.
§ Dr. GilbertInspectors invited to accept appointments to preside at motorway or trunk road inquiries are selected from the Department's panel of fee-paid inspectors, who currently number 49. For information about the number of such inquiries I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Price).
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the fact that at the recent M1 public inquiries held in Watford Town Hall the Waterdale junction inquiry was opened before the close of the M1 widening inquiry, contrary to the official notices issued by his Department, he will in future fix and adhere to a definite date and time for the start of every public inquiry.
§ Mr. MarksNo. When concurrent public inquiries are held into a number of draft orders relating to the same scheme, it would be impracticable to fix in advance a definite date for the start of the inquiry on each order.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether all households likely to be affected by a proposed road development are, as a matter of course, informed individually by a circular from his Department about his Department's intentions and the date of the public inquiry.
§ Mr. MarksAt the publication of a draft scheme notification is sent to all households within 100 metres of the proposed works. At the publication of a compulsory purchase order, all owners, lessees and occupiers, except certain short-term tenants, of property included in the order are notified individually. The decision to hold a public inquiry is notified to all objectors and to the various statutory and representative bodies, supplemented by notices in the local Press.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the regulations concerning the role of his Department in publicising forthcoming road development public enquiries.
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§ Mr. MarksUnder Rule 4 of the Highways (Inquiries Procedure) Rules 1976 (SI 1976 No. 721), the Secretary of State is required to give not less than 42 days' notice in writing of the date, time and place of the inquiry to every statutory objector, or such lesser period of notice as may be agreed with them, and to post notices in places where public notices are usually posted in the locality and in conspicuous places near the site or sites of the development. In addition, a notice of the inquiry is published in one or more local newspapers.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for changing the source of appointment of inspectors' assistants at road development public inquiries.
§ Dr. GilbertNone.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the inspector's assistant at road development public inquiries is always appointed from a departmental road construction unit; and what special qualifications are required for such appointees.
§ Dr. GilbertNo. There are no special qualification's required, beyond normal administrative competence.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines are laid down by his Department for inspectors at public inquiries for the maintenance of the secrecy of the inspector's notes during the course of an inquiry.
§ Mr. John SilkinNone. Inspectors' notes are a personal aide meoire to the preparation of their subsequent report or decision on the matter which was the subject of the inquiry.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many inspectors employed for road development public inquiries held since 1st January 1964 had or had had professional associations with road construction.
§ Dr. GilbertInformation in the form requested is not readily available and 377W could only be obtained at disproportionate expense.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether those chosen to be inspectors at road development public inquiries are required to undergo any measure of training beforehand; and, if so, what is involved.
§ Dr. GilbertThe Department's panel of fee-paid inspectors receive no formal training as such but before being invited to preside at inquiries into major road proposals they are given the opportunity to become familiar with the procedures by conducting less demanding inquiries. All inspectors are given written guidance on the conduct of inquiries generally.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current rate of payment for those employed as inspectors by his Department for road development public inquiries.
§ Dr. Gilbert£31.20 or £37.20 per day depending upon the complexity of the case.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many road development public inquiries held since 1st January 1964 have been delayed for one day or more as a result of physical interference by objectors into its proceedings.
§ Mr. MarksFull information is not readily available, but four inquiries have been so delayed since 1974.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether a shorthand note or tape recording of the proceedings of road development inquiries is ever made.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any individual has ever been compensated for loss of earnings sustained as a result of his or her attendance as an objector or a supporter at a road development public inquiry.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when his Department last reviewed the rules of procedure for highway inquiries; and what were the results of that review.
§ Dr. GilbertRules of procedure for these inquiries, based substantially on existing practice, were made by my right hon. and noble Friend the Lord Chancellor on 7th May and came into operation on 10th June.
§ Mr. Dodsworthasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the average duration and cost of a road development public inquiry.