§ Lord Denningasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the second Answer of the Baroness Denton of Wakefield on 25th October 1993 (WA 78), whether the time and expense of county councils can be tested by taking a sample of that incurred from 1986–1993 by the Devon County Council in the case of the definitive Map Modification Order 1991 in respect of Park Farm, Membury, culminating in an inspector's report of 12 closely-printed pages of 6th July 1993, with the added expense of that of the Government.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of the Environment (Baroness Denton of Wakefield)The complexity of the issues raised by orders made under Schedule 14 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 may vary considerably between cases. To attempt to test the time and expense of the county council on the basis of one order would produce a result which was unrepresentative of the call on the resources of order making authorities imposed by the 1981 Act.
§ Lord Denningasked Her Majesty's Government:
Further to the Answer of the Baroness Denton of Wakefield on 25th October 1993 (WA 77), whether the Department of the Environment will retain the confirmation of the decision in its own hands and not allow the inspector himself to confirm it.
§ Baroness Denton of WakefieldDecisions on definitive map orders submitted to the Secretary of State for the Environment for confirmation will, for most cases, remain with Inspectors under the provisions of paragraph 10 of Schedule 15 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. The Secretary of State for the Environment will continue to retain the right, contained in the above provisions, to determine an order himself.