§ Mr. Robert Banksasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will set out his reasons for ordering a further public inquiry into the proposals for the southern bypass of Knaresborough and Harrogate; and if he will give details of such evidence as he received.
§ Mr. Peter BottomleyThe orders for the bypass require confirmation by the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State cannot decide whether or not to confirm orders unless he is fully informed as a result of a public inquiry. In this case he received 79 representations after the inquiry closed, including one from the Nature Conservancy Council. These representations raised points material to the decision which the Secretary of State was to make.
He has decided that the inquiry should be reopened. If he were to make a decision without being fully informed on the points in question, he would not be properly discharging his statutory functions.