asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will decide whether a public inquiry is to be held into the proposals by Longhaven Quarries Limited to build a jetty and extract quarrying materials for overseas transhipment at Longhaven in the constituency of East Aberdeenshire.

The proposed developments are the subject of a draft order by the promoters under the Private Legislation Procedure (Scotland) Act 1936. Formal petitions of objection have been lodged by various interests, which are still under consideration and subject to negotiation by the promoters. This procedure may take some months. On the assumption that the objections are not subsequently withdrawn, they would, in terms of the Act, become the subject of a public inquiry by Parliamentary Commissioners sitting in Scotland.