§ 50. Mr. SHINWELLasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been directed by public bodies in Scotland to the proposed scheme for a Mid-Scotland ship canal; whether the scheme has been before the Admiralty and if any opinion on the scheme has been submitted by them; whether the Government is in a 36 position to state the estimated cost of a survey of the direct route; and if such a survey is contemplated?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)I have been asked to reply to this question. The answer to the first part is in the affirmative. I am informed that this scheme has been considered on several occasions by the Admiralty, who reported that they were not prepared to advise the Government that the canal would be of sufficient strategic importance to justify Government expenditure on that ground under existing financial conditions. The cost of a survey of the direct route proposed for the canal was estimated in 1918 at about £25,000. As I stated in reply to a question on this subject by my hon. Friend the Member for Barnstaple (Mr. I'eto) on the 12th March, it is for the advocates of the canal to have any necessary survey of the route carried out.
§ Mr. SHINWELLIn view of the possibilities of such a canal from the point of view of commerce, trade, and the defence of the country, would it not he desirable for the Government to undertake the survey, and not leave it to private interests to undertake the task?
§ Colonel ASHLEYIn view of the considered opinion of the Admiralty and of the state of the national finances, if the advocates of this scheme will put up a scheme we will consider it. We can do nothing else.
§ Mr. PETOWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman make inquiries at the Government Geological Office, in Jermyn Street, as to whether a complete section of the canal was not executed by a Government surveyor, for the benefit of the Admiralty, to enable Messrs. Armstrong, Whitworth and Co. to make an estimate for the canal during the War?