HC Deb 15 October 1912 vol 42 c1059
49. Mr. WEDGWOOD

asked the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in advancing money for harbour works along the Moray Firth, the Development Commissioners have stipulated that the work shall not be completed for seven years; and whether he is satisfied that this manner of spreading out work over a long period does not waste the taxpayers' money and lead to the most expensive construction?

Mr. MASTERMAN

In order to give effect to the intentions of Section 18 of the Development and Road Improvement Funds Act, 1909, the Commissioners, m recommending advances in respect of the improvement of certain harbours in the Moray Firth, proposed that in each case it should be a condition of the advance that the works be begun at a time fixed by the Fishery Board for Scotland; and they intimated their opinion that the works in question should be carried out over a period of seven years. It was not intended that the works at any single harbour should occupy seven years, but that works should not proceed, and consequently cease more or less simultaneously at four or five harbours. I am not aware of any reason for supposing that this arrangement will involve waste of money.