asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the public inquiry was made into the Tynemouth (Lisles Buildings and Back Row Culler-coats) Compulsory Purchase Order 1973; when he expects to be able to announce his decision on the order; and what is delaying the decision.

The public inquiry into the Tynemouth (Lisles Buildings and Back Row Cullercoats) Compulsory Purchase Order 1973 was held on 26th November 1974. The order was in fact confirmed on 29th May 1975, six months being an average time taken in processing this type of order. This time scale will be reduced as the current backlog of orders is cleared. I am arranging for copies of the decision letter and the inspector's report to be sent direct to the hon. Member.