�10m worth of waterfront land has been given to Les Pas

The committee which promised an inquiry into the controversial �10m land giveaway says it will cost taxpayers too much.

Les Pas Holdings had been claiming ownership of a large area of reclaimed land in St Helier for several years.

But in September the States voted to give �10m of land on the Waterfront development to Les Pas before the case was brought to court, on the condition it gave up its claim on the reclaimed land.

In secret

Following that decision a public inquiry was promised into how the States found itself in such a position.

But the cost of an inquiry has been put at anything between �1m and �2m of taxpayers' money so the Policy and Resources Committee has decided not to proceed.

But committee president Senator Frank Walker says if politicians and the public still want an inquiry, they can have it.

"But I doubt very much there are many members of the public now who would want to spend that sort of money on going through the whole process again which has already been very thoroughly aired in the public arena," he said.

The agreement was reached after four days of closed debate in the States which were held in secret for legal reasons.

BBC Radio Jersey was later permitted to broadcast the entire Les Pas debate.

Senator Walker also denied his committee had tried to bury the decision by informing States Members on Christmas Eve.

He said his committee only met last week and this was the earliest they could be told.