HC Deb 26 October 1994 vol 248 cc726-7W
Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to announce his decision in the public local inquiry held under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 into the provision of a supermarket in Anstruther.

Mr. Stewart

The reporter who heard evidence at the public local inquiry into the proposed supermarket in Anstruther will shortly submit a report, with recommendations, to my right hon. Friend. Every effort will be made to issue a decision by the end of the year.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many public local inquiries under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 have been held in each of the last 10 years for which information is available.

Mr. Stewart

The information requested is set out in the table:

Year Number
1984 150
1985 147
1986 163
1987 123
1988 125
1989 132
1990 171
1991 129
1992 111
1993 215

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current establishment of the planning inquiry reporting unit of the Scottish Development Department; and what vacancies there are.

Mr. Stewart

The information requested is set out in the table:

  • Chief Reporter
  • Deputy Chief Reporter
  • Principal Reporters–2
  • Reporters–10
  • Administrative Supportive Staff–25
  • Secretarial and typing staff–4

These figures include the two additional reporter posts which were created and filled earlier this year.

The current complement of the panel of part-time reporters is 16 including four part-time reporters who were recruited recently. There are no vacancies at present in the Unit.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland in how many public local inquiries held under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 in 1993 he has yet to announce a decision.

Mr. Stewart

There are at the present time four cases awaiting determination.

Mr. Menzies Campbell

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the dates and subjects of the public local inquiries in north-east Fife held under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 in which he has yet to announce a decision.

Mr. Stewart

The information requested is as follows:

Inquiry Dates Subjects
16 and 22–31 March 1993 Proposed retail developments at Crawmill farm, Crail road, part of the holiday camp site and St. Andrews road, Anstruther.
31 August 1994 Proposed timeshare chalet, development at Brownhills Cottage, by St. Andrews.