HC Deb 08 February 1994 vol 237 c143W
Mr. Simon Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what method the Government use to assess the weight of public opinion when considering whether or not to hold a public inquiry;

(2) what criteria are used by his department when assessing whether or not a project should be subject to a public inquiry;

(3) what he considers to be a sufficient number of complaints to make a subject worthy of a public inquiry.

Mr. Baldry

In deciding whether to hold a public local planning inquiry, each case is considered on its merits. All the relevant issues, including the complexity of a case and the weight of public opinion or complaints arising, are taken into account.