§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslopasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is preventing him from requesting the Lord Chancellor to nominate an inspector to conduct the public inquiry into the North Devon link road proposals; and whether finding a suitable hall is still the determining factor in choosing a date for the inquiry; and how such a statement is compatible with his other statement in 115W answer to a Question that the hall cannot be chosen until the inspector has been appointed.
§ Mr. HoramThe first task is to locate a suitable hall and ascertain the dates on which it could be available. The present situation is that a number of possibilities have been put to the co-ordinator for this inquiry, and he is visiting Devon today. The next step is to decide a possible starting date for the inquiry in the light of his findings, and the other preparations to be made. It is at this stage that my right hon. Friends will ask the Lord Chancellor to nominate the person whom he considers suitable to act as inspector. We then want to give the inspector an opportunity to comment on the suitability of the hall and the other arrangements for the inquiry, and after that a firm announcement will be made of the venue and the date. As I have said,116W my right hon. Friends hope to make this announcement in the autumn.