§ MR. ANGUS SUTHERLAND (Sutherland)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to state the intentions of the Government with regard to the terms offered for the construction, working, and maintenance of a railway from Culrain to Lochinver on the west coast of Sutherland?
§ MR. GOSCHENThe hon. Member asks me to state the intentions of the Government with regard to the terms offered for the construction and working of the Lochinver railway. I am not yet in a position to answer this question. The question to which yesterday I undertook to reply in detail had reference to the Mallaig line.
§ MR. SUTHERLANDWill the right hon. Gentleman give that information?
§ MR. GOSCHENLord Lovat has promised to give a free grant of his land which the proposed railway will traverse for a distance of about four miles, and the site for the harbour at Mallaig. The local subscriptions towards the undertaking are estimated at £40,000. This sum includes the value of some of the lands to be taken.
§ MR. SUTHERLANDDoes the right hon. Gentleman think that these are as favourable as the terms offered in regard to the Lochinver route, and did not the report recommend the Lochinver route over every other route?
§ MR. GOSCHENNo, I have read the report, and it does not seem to me to convey that; but so far as the Treasury are concerned, the arrangements are superior, so far as I can judge, to other offers.
§ MR. SUTHERLANDWill a guarantee or subsidy for the Mallaig route preclude consideration of the Lochinver route?
§ MR. GOSCHENThe one does not exclude the other; sanction of the Mallaig route does not prevent the consideration of another line.
§ MR. SUTHERLANDCan the right hon. Gentleman hold out any indication as to when a decision will be arrived at? Much anxiety exists on the subject in the district.
§ MR. GOSCHENThe matter does not rest with the Treasury alone; it is a matter of policy, upon which the Government as a whole will decide.