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Mr. Faber: I entirely understand what my hon. Friend is saying, and agree wholeheartedly that the benefit of the doubt should be with the person who is carrying out the operation. I have no desire for someone's livelihood--or the livelihood of those who work for that person--to be taken away unnecessarily. I hope that my hon. Friend appreciates that that has not been the tone of my speech or of the debate. I have merely sought to point out that the process of appeal, judicial review and redetermination has now been going on for several years, and that that is unacceptable to those who run the plant, to the local people who are suffering the smell and to West Wiltshire district council.

I endorse much of what my hon. Friend has said, but what we want locally is a decision one way or the other, so that the district council knows where it stands. It needs to know whether it must encourage the owners to make the required investment to bring their plant up to scratch, so that the smells can be eliminated. All we want is a date or a time in the near future when the redetermination will be complete, so that everyone knows where they stand.

Mr. Clappison: My hon. Friend has been reasonable, not just this evening, but in all his communications on the matter. I understand his concerns.

I can assure my hon. Friend on two points. First, I can assure him on the general policy on conditions, and the severe consequences that will follow from a breach of conditions. Secondly, I have listened carefully to the points that he made. Although I cannot give him a date here and now, I can assure him that I shall closely consider the timing, bearing in mind the reasonable points that he made about the importance of time. I shall examine how the matter is being handled. I shall do my best to ensure that a decision is made as soon as possible. I shall take a close interest in the matter, to reflect the close interest that he has taken throughout.

Question put and agreed to.

Adjourned accordingly at twenty-five minutes past Ten o'clock.

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