HC Deb 13 December 1911 vol 32 cc2345-7
Mr. FALCONER

asked what were the terms of the reference to the Departmental Committee of 1909 with regard to the national harbour of refuge at Peterhead; whether any Report has been made, and, if so, whether the abandonment of the works required for the completion of the harbour was recommended by the Committee; and whether, in view of the importance attached to this question by those interested in the fishing and shipping industries in Scotland, the Department will cause the Report to be published?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. McKinnon Wood)

The reference is too long to quote in extenso in reply to a question, but I will hand a copy to my hon. Friend. In reply to the second and third parts of the question the Committee of 1909 were not directed by their reference to consider the question of the abandonment of the north breakwater.

Mr. FALCONER

In view of the fact that Parliament is about to rise, and that this is a matter of great importance to large districts of Scotland, may we rely that nothing will be done in any way to abandon those works without the sanction of an Act of Parliament; and in view, further, of the fact that £750,000 has already been spent on the works, can we rely on the works not being abandoned without the sanction of an Act of Parliament, or at least without Parliament having an opportunity to discuss the matter?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I have gone further than my hon. Friend suggests in an answer to a question the other day. I said if the local authorities had any representations to make as to the effect of the abandonment or continuance of these works upon the local harbour, I shall be very pleased to take the matter into consideration before coming to a final decision. At present they have not approached the Treasury in any way.

Mr. FALCONER

Will the right hon. Gentleman take into account the fact that this question affects a number of communities all along the East coast—Aberdeen, Fraserburgh, and other places, and will he confer with those interested and give them an opportunity of putting their views before him?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

I shall have the greatest pleasure in doing that. I think it would be of great advantage to have the views of other great fishing centres like Aberdeen before a decision is ultimately arrived at.

Mr. EUGENE WASON

May I ask that nothing will be done in the meantime in regard to the works until the right hon. Gentleman has heard the views of those interested?

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

Yes; no final decision has been arrived at.

Mr. WATT

If these works are abandoned the £750,000 which has been put into them will be lost, but if further work is done upon them they will be of great value.

Mr. McKINNON WOOD

The facts are not as stated by my hon. Friend.

Mr. FALCONER

asked whether the proposed abandonment of the works required for the completion of the national harbour of refuge at Peterhead has been considered and approved by the Board of Trade; and, if so, whether, in view of the opposition which the proposal to abandon the works has aroused in Scotland, he will publish the Minute or Report setting forth the reasons for abandoning an undertaking which has been repeatedly approved by Committees and Royal Commissions and by the Board of Trade and sanctioned by an Act of Parliament, and on which £750,000 has been spent?

Mr. BUXTON

The Board of Trade have no information on the subject. The harbour is not under their jurisdiction.