§ 51. Mr. ROBERT MURRAYasked the Prime Minister if he has completed his promised inquiry into the proposal to construct a Mid-Scotland ship canal; and, if he has done so, at what conclusions he has arrived?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI would refer the hon. Member to the replies on this subject given by my hon. and gallant Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport to the hon. Members for Dundee on the 15th February and the 1st March. If the advocates of the canal will put forward a definite scheme and estimates, they will be most carefully examined, but no evidence has been adduced that the proposed canal would pay its way commercially, and I do not think that the very heavy initial expenditure could be justified at the present time.
§ Mr. SHINWELLHow can you arrive at a conclusion when no evidence has been submitted which justifies the rejection of a scheme unless the scheme has been submitted to the Government?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government is capable of forming an estimate.
§ Mr. SHINWELLDo I understand it is capable of forming an estimate without a scheme having been submitted to it?
§ Dr. CHAPPLEIs the Prime Minister making inquiries as to the practicability of such a scheme?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe Government only make inquiries when a definite scheme is submitted.
§ The PRIME MINISTERNot, so far as I know.
§ Mr. R. MURRAYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of local authorities in Scotland have petitioned in favour of the scheme proceeding, and does he think they would do so unless there was evidence in favour of it?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is a question not of schemes but of local authorities.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWas not a good deal of evidence on this subject given before the Committee of Imperial Defence?
§ Dr. CHAPPLEIs it not true that several schemes have already been submitted to the Government? Are they still under consideration, or have they been turned down?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe subject was considered by the Royal Commission on Canals. I have no information later.