To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment in respect of the public inquiry due to commence on 5 February into the planning application for a Marks and Spencer foodstore at the River Thames embankment, Twickenham, if he will state on what date any informal or formal indication, whether by telephone, orally or in writing, was first provided by his Department to Marks and Spencer plc or Richmond-upon-Thames borough council as to the probable date of the inquiry; and on what dates a similar indication was first given to any known objector to the application.

I will write to my hon. Friend.