Examination in public

The examination in public is an open hearing to discuss and test the submitted regional spatial strategy

You may be invited to speak at specific sessions if you have submitted evidence (reference: PPS 11, annex C).

It is held in front of a person appointed by the secretary of state. However in practice, there will be a panel of two or three people who will advise the secretary of state on the merits of the strategy.

The panel is responsible for choosing
The more controversial parts of the submitted strategy are those most likely to be debated.

The panel also selects the questions around which discussion on each issue will focus

• Who will be given the opportunity to attend and, therefore, speak
• The list of people invited will vary from one issue to another

Initial lists of issues for discussion and of participants are open for consultation for 28 days.

The choice of issues
Government policy suggests that the aim of the process is to test the 'soundness' of the strategy.

Issues should be debated where this could usefully provide further information to test the soundness of the revision (reference: PPS 11, paragraphs 2.48-49 and annex C, paragraphs 5 and 14-15).

The choice of participants
Participants will mainly be chosen for the significance of the contribution they are likely to make.

This could be on the basis of their knowledge and expertise, rather than the quality of their comments on the submitted strategy.

The aim is to select participants who between them represent a broad range of viewpoints. So the panel may even invite people who did not make comments on the submitted strategy.

The number of participants will be small enough to hold a worthwhile discussion and is unlikely to be more than 20 (reference: PPS 11, annex C, paragraphs 17-25).

Participating
Participants are expected to submit further written statements. It is vital you do this within the deadline.

These statements should develop rather than just repeat the points made in earlier comments on the submitted strategy.

Each participant will receive copies of all the statements from other participants for a 'matter for discussion' (reference: PPS 11, annex C, paragraphs 25-26).

Non participants may submit written statements at this stage but only do so if you have something new to draw to the panel's attention.

At the hearing itself, debates will take place round a table and will be controlled by the chairperson.

Each issue for discussion will have a set time period.

The panel will expect participants to have read every other statement on the matter for discussion, so that arguments can be developed even further during the discussion. (reference: PPS 11, annex C, paragraphs 44-47).