§ 3. Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any communication was received by the Scottish Office from the Admiralty in 1921 setting out the advantages of a mid-Scotland ship canal; and whether the terms of that letter can be made public?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir John Gilmour)No communication of the nature mentioned was received by the Scottish Office from the Admiralty in 1921. Communications of this nature passing between Departments would be confidential and would require to be treated as such.
§ 4. Mr. MACLEANasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the proposal to construct a mid-Scotland ship canal was considered at a conference which was held by the Ministry of Reconstruction in April, 1918, at which the then Secretary for Scotland and representatives of the Admiralty and Board of Trade were pre- 86 sent; whether he can give any statement as to the views expressed on the subject by those representatives; whether any Report of that conference has been published; and, if not, whether the Report can be examined by Members of this House?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)I have been asked to answer this question. As I have previously explained, various schemes have from time to time been considered by the Departments concerned, including the Ministry of Reconstruction. They have not been considered to be practicable on account of the high cost of construction and the comparatively small receipts which could be expected, and I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by publishing details of the discussions or reports which have led to this conclusion.
§ Mr. MACLEANWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman inform me whether he cannot have the Report examined by Members of the House and place it in the Library for their convenience?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo, Sir. I think that these Reports of inter-Departmental conferences should be kept private.
§ Mr. MACLEANSince this question has caused considerable controversy, will not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider the necessity of putting the Report in the Library for the information of hon. Members, so that they may know whether or not this particular scheme can go forward for further consideration?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo, Sir. I cannot alter my decision.
§ Mr. RILEYCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether an estimate has been made as to the receipts to be expected if such a canal is constructed?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo, Sir. No precise estimates of receipts have been made; there have been no calculations made. Until we know what is going to be the cost we cannot know what use is likely to be made of it.
§ Mr. RILEYI want to know whether an estimate has actually been made as 87 to what the receipts might be on the ground that it is turned down because the receipts are expected to be very small.
§ Colonel ASHLEYA rough estimate has been made.
§ Commander BELLAIRSIs not Scottish private enterprise perfectly free to promote a Bill to carry out this enterprise if they wish to do so?
§ Colonel ASHLEYYes, Sir.
§ 9. Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that an estimate of the cost of constructing a Mid-Scotland ship canal has been made by Armstrong, Whitworth and Company and the cost set out at £42,000,000; and whether, seeing that it is calculated that the direct route, high-tide level, scheme could he constructed for several millions less, this question can be reconsidered?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe cost of constructing a Mid-Scotland ship canal would necessarily depend upon the nature of the scheme and the route chosen. Some of the estimates I have seen are higher and some lower than the figure mentioned by the hon. Member. In these circumstances, I see no reason to add to my previous replies.
§ Mr. MACLEANAs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman has already stated that one of his objections against reconsidering this scheme has been the absence of any estimate, and he now admits that several estimates have been made, will he now reconsider the matter?
§ Colonel ASHLEYBecause one has several estimates it does not follow one has reliable data.
§ Mr. MACLEANIn admitting that several estimates have been made, does not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman contradict his previous statement that he could not go on with the matter until he had an estimate?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe Government have never made estimates; it is only various private individuals or companies who have made them.
§ Mr. MACLEANWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman try to influence the Government to get a real estimate 88 of what the canal will cost, instead of leaving the estimate to private individuals or firms?
§ Colonel ASHLEYNo. We have always taken the line that it is a matter for the private interests concerned to make estimates.
§ Mr. MACLEANIf it is a matter for the private firms interested, why will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not accept the estimates of those private firms?
§ Colonel ASHLEYBecause we are not sure that they are reliable.