§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the cost to public funds was of(a) the inquiry into development of Victoria Square and (b) preparation for the inquiry. [105064]
§ Mr. BrowneThe Planning Appeals Commission (PAC) held conjoined inquiries into the Development Scheme for Victoria Square Belfast and representations to the Notice of Intention to Vest lands in connection with the Development Scheme. The inquiries were a statutory requirement under the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991. Pre-inquiry meetings were held by the PAC on 18 October 2001, 26 October 2001, 13 December 2001 and 8 January 2002 to establish arrangements for the inquiries and deal with procedural queries. The actual inquiries took place between630W 22 January and 31 January 2002. Preparatory work, which necessitated input from planning, vesting, legal (including counsel), transportation, built heritage and urban design consultants extended over a five month period and resulted in costs of £215,000. The Department incurred a further £507,900 in consultancy costs during the inquiry itself. These costs relate to the preparation and presentation of the Department's case in the form of written and oral evidence to the inquiries.