asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many public planning inquiries have been held in each of the years 1970 to 1974; and if he will consider publishing the decisions of such public inquiries in the London Gazette or similar publications.

The number of cases into which local inquiries were held under the Town and Country Planning Acts was 4.393 in 1970, 4,239 in 1971, 4,154 in 1972, 4,034 in 1973 and 4,696 in 1974. There is no evidence to suggest that existing arrangements for publishing the decisions on these cases are inadequate.