§ Lord Lairdasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will hold a public inquiry into the planning proposal to build a power station and an open-cast lignite mine near Ballymoney in Northern Ireland. [HL1915]
§ Lord Williams of MostynThe Department of the Environment's planning service received the environmental statement required for this planning application on 17 February 2003 and has now validated the application. The application and the environmental statement will be advertised in the local newspapers and in theBelfast Telegraph shortly.
Following consideration of the advice from the consultees and representations made in respect of the 25WA application and the environmental statement, a decision will be taken on how to proceed with the application and whether this will be by way of public inquiry.