§ "That a sum, not exceeding £47,000, be granted to Her Majesty, to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1892, for Expenditure upon certain Public Works, and for improved Communications, within the Highlands and Islands of Scotland."
§ (6.52.) MR. FRASER-MACKINTOSH (Invernessshire)Holding this Vote as an instalment of the policy of Government in the development of certain exceptionally scheduled districts in the West Highlands and Islands, I have to thank the Government on behalf of my constituents for having adopted the present attitude, and for their determination in pushing the matter forward.
§ DR. CLARKI do not think the Government are doing anything which is specially deserving of the gratitude expressed by my hon. Friend. Some time ago we were told by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Birmingham that, whereas about a century back roads were required in the Highlands, tramways and railways are now wanted. The Government have been negotiating in some Scotch railways, and now that the First Lord is in his place, I would like to have some information as to what the Government proposals are. You are developing the county of which my hon. Friend (Mr. Fraser-Mackintosh) is a representative, and a new railway is to be constructed there. I would like to know from the First Lord of the Treasury what is the position of these negotiations, and whether it is the intention of the Government to subsidise one of the railways down to the coast? There are five railways touching the neighbourhood, and the Government have, I learn, been in communication with the Highland, the North British, and the Great North of Scotland Companies. I wish to ask whether it is a fact that the Highland Railway Company have refused to undertake the work, that, on that refusal, terms were made with the Great North of Scotland, which agreed to go on, and were going on, with the work, and that the Highland Railway have subsequently endeavoured to prevent the contract being carried through?
§ MR. JACKSONThe negotiations are still in progress, but it is undesirable under the circumstances to state at this moment what the nature of them is. Generally, however, it may be taken that the means of connections between the mainland and the Highlands and Islands are being promoted as quickly as possible, and that certain suggestions which have been made will be adopted.
§ Resolution agreed to.