§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 26 February 2004,Official Report, column 529W, on the Dibden Bay container port proposal and the New Forest National Park proposal, for what reason he declined to state whether or not he would make it his policy not to announce his decision on the port before the result of the public inquiry into the National Park is known; and if he will make a statement. [158828]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe answer I gave on 26 February 2004,Official Report, column 529W, stated that the publication of the report of the public inquiry into the proposal for the creation of a New Forest National Park was a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
A decision on the proposal for a new container port at Dibden Bay must be taken under a different statutory process and the timing of an announcement should 1150W therefore be separate from that for an announcement on a national park. It would not be appropriate to make it a policy not to announce a decision on the port before publication of the New Forest inquiry report. Issues relating to the proposals for the creation of a New Forest National Park were addressed at the public inquiry into proposals for a container port at Dibden Bay.