§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the grounds for his decision to order East Lothian district council to pay the full costs of the public inquiry held under section 211 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 on 25 January and 8 February.
§ Mr. Allan StewartSection 210(7) of the Local Governent (Scotland) Act 1973 directs that the Secretary of State's expenses in relation to any local inquiry held under that Act are to be paid by the local authority concerned unless the Secretary of State is of the opinion that he should defray all or part of those expenses. The Secretary of State did not consider that there were any considerations pertaining to the local inquiry in question which would have justified such an opinion on his part.
§ Mr. Home Robertsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of the public inquiry into the progress of council house sales in East Lothian district which was held in Haddington on 25 January and 8 February.
§ Mr. Allan StewartI shall write to the hon. Member as soon as I have sent East Lothian district council a note of the Secretary of State's costs.