{"section": {"slug": "highway-inquiries", "contributions": [{"prefix": null, "end_image": "S6CV0252P0I0573", "time": null, "text": "<p>To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what is the effect of the revised rules governing highway inquiries.</p>", "procedural_note": null, "constituency_id": null, "column_range": "135", "xml_id": null, "section_id": 3193487, "lords_membership_id": null, "party_name": null, "member_suffix": null, "member_id": null, "id": 12514804, "anchor_id": "S6CV0252P0_19950111_CWA_15", "commons_membership_id": 6067, "start_image": "S6CV0252P0I0573", "question_no": null, "constituency_name": null, "party_id": null, "member_name": "Sir Terence Higgins", "style": null}, {"prefix": null, "end_image": "S6CV0252P0I0573", "time": null, "text": "<p>Revised Highways (Inquiries Procedure) Rules and Compulsory Purchase by Ministers (Inquiries Procedure) Rules were laid before the House by my right<col>136</col>\r\nhon. and learned Friend the Lord Chancellor on 20 December 1994.</p><p>The consultation document prompted over 80 responses. The proposals to update the inquiry rules governing highway inquiries were widely welcomed. The main changes in the new rules are:\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>&#x2014;pre-inquiry meetings will have a formal standing;</li>\r\n<li>&#x2014;inspectors will be allowed to set a timetable for the inquiry;</li>\r\n<li>&#x2014;specific time targets can be set to ensure that the inquiry is held as quickly and as efficiently as possible;</li>\r\n<li>&#x2014;written proofs of evidence will be submitted before the inquiry with summaries if the main proofs are long;</li>\r\n<li>&#x2014;only these summaries will usually be read out at the inquiry;</li>\r\n<li>&#x2014;inspectors will have the right to refuse irrelevant or repetitious evidence.</li>\r\n</ul></p><p>The new rules, which came into force on 10 January, eliminate bureaucratic procedures without affecting people's rights to object to road schemes.</p><p>In future transcripts will be taken at all inquiries expected to sit for more than 16 days.</p><p>A summary of responses to the consultation document which lists the main points arising from the consultation process, and gives the Government's response, has been placed in the Library.</p>", "procedural_note": null, "constituency_id": null, "column_range": "135,136", "xml_id": null, "section_id": 3193487, "lords_membership_id": null, "party_name": null, "member_suffix": null, "member_id": null, "id": 12514807, "anchor_id": "S6CV0252P0_19950111_CWA_16", "commons_membership_id": 10056, "start_image": "S6CV0252P0I0573", "question_no": null, "constituency_name": null, "party_id": null, "member_name": "Mr. Watts", "style": null}], "start_column": "135", "title": "Highway Inquiries", "sitting_id": 64382, "date": "1995-01-11", "id": 3193487, "end_column": "136", "sections": [], "parent_section_id": 3193483}}