§ Mr. Weetchasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what criteria his Department uses, in applying its statement of policy of 29 July 1982, Official Report, column 708, for establishing the national interest in decisions regarding the possible exemption of major industrial and commercial developments from the restrictions imposed in respect of areas of outstanding natural beauty.
§ Mr. MacfarlaneThere are no formal criteria. Our statement explains the necessity of determining each case on its merits, and it is in that context that questions concerning the national interest would be assessed.