§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if a decision has been taken within the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment to support landfill at Magheramorne prior to the public inquiry. [29172]
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if the US Trade and Development Agency or Louis Berger International Inc. was advised that the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment had announced that a public inquiry would be held into the Blue Circle, Magheramorne quarry landfill application later in 1995 when briefed by the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment town and country planning service prior to the Washington conference; [29176]
(2) if Louis Berger International Inc. was advised of the likelihood of a public inquiry into the suitability of the limestone based quarry at Magheramorne, Country Antrim and of its timing; [29174]
(3) what information the US Trade and Development Agency or Louis Berger International Inc. was given by the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment officials on their assessment of the viability of the Blue Circle landfill proposed project; [29173]
(4) what advice was given by the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment to (a) the US Trade and Development Agency or (b) Louis Berger International Inc. regarding the Magheramorne quarry landfill project prior to the White House conference held in Washington on 24 to 26 March. [29171]
52W
§ Mr. MossThe chief scientist, Louis Berger International Inc. (Engineers, Scientists, Economists, Planners) was part of a trade delegation from the United States of America visiting Northern Ireland prior to the Washington conference. He met an official of the town and country planning service of the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment to discuss environmental information, including prospective developments.
Arising from the general discussion the chief scientist expressed interest in the Blue Circle Magheramorne landfill project and was then shown the environmental statement which accompanied the planning application relating to the project. The environmental statement is a document available for public scrutiny. He was told that a local public inquiry would be held later this year. No further advice was given either on the likely outcome of the application nor on the viability of the project.
§ Mr. BeggsTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the town and country planning service will complete its environmental impact assessment of the magheramorne quarry landfill project. [29175]
§ Mr. MossAssessment of the environmental effects of the proposal will not be completed until after the local public inquiry into the planning application and consideration of the report of the Planning Appeals Commission which is not expected until late spring 1996.