§ MR. GORDON (Elgin and Nairn)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if County Councils in Scotland have already power to purchase and use such land as they require for the erection of public bridges, in the event of the present owner being unwilling to negotiate; and, if such powers do not exist, whether the Government will consider the necessity for further legislation?
MR. GRAHAM MURRAYThe answer to the first Question of the honourable Member is in the negative. As regards the suggestion made in the second Question, the Secretary for Scotland will con- 616 sider it along with the question of ferries, but he cannot undertake to propose any amendment of the Local Government Acts during the present Session.