§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Transport if, in the light of the facts that, in the circumstances as they were thought to be at the conclusion of proceedings in the Joint Committee on the Okehampton bypass special procedure orders, the Committee did not have the power 4W to award costs, and that further exchange land as sought by the petitioners was identified by his Department only subsequent to the conclusion of the Committee's proceedings, he will assess whether the petitioners were unreasonably or vexatiously subjected to expense in defending their rights before the Joint Committee; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyIt is not considered that petitioners were unreasonably or vexatiously subjected to expense in defending their rights before the Joint Committee. There is no change to the views which my right hon. Friend and I have previously expressed in replies to my hon. Friend on 17 February, at column 92, and on 5, 10 and 20 March, at columns 167, 365, 249.