§ 24. Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will increase the opportunities for public representation at planning inquiries; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ChopeThe rules of procedure at planning inquiries, in addition to conferring rights of appearance on certain parties, give inspectors wide discretion to allow members of the public to make representations. I believe that inspectors exercise that discretion reasonably; but in fairness to everyone involved, they do on occasions have a responsibility to control representations which are clearly irrelevant or repetitious.