§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for Transport why his Department had spent more than four weeks since 26th May searching for a suitable venue in the Tiverton area in which to hold the public inquiry into the North Devon link road without bothering to ask the Mid-Devon District Council for help in finding it.
§ Mr. HoramUntil the inspector and co-ordinator have been appointed and perhaps a pre-inquiry meeting held, in accordance with the procedures set out in paragraphs 40–43 of the report on the review of highway inquiry procedures (Cmnd. 7133), it is not possible to be certain what size of hall will be required. For this reason, no formal approach has yet been made to the council. However, the Department has been investigating the options open to it by inquiring on an informal basis into the availability of various halls.