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Mr. Michael Forsyth
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy to release the names of objectors to trunk road alterations and bypasses to hon. Members as well as public inquiries.
Mr. Ancram
No; the degree of confidentiality which those opposing trunk road schemes can expect at present is a valuable safeguard of their rights. It ensures that people are not deterred from lodging objections by fear of pressure being brought to bear on them by other interested parties. Where a public inquiry is held, however, there is no option but to make public the names of those who have maintained their objections, since the proceedings are held in public.