§ 21. Sir PATRICK FORDasked the Minister of Transport what is the total estimated cost of the new Glencoe road from Tyndrum through Glenorchy and Glencoe to Carnach, near Ballachulish; and why it was decided to spend so large a sum on an arterial road in this district instead of spreading over at least part of it on road construction of more economic value in other parts of Scotland?
Mr. STANLEYThe total estimated cost of constructing the 30 mile section of the Glasgow-Inverness trunk route lying between Tyndrum and Carnach is £512,000. The scheme was included in the trunk road reconstruction programme initiated in 1924–25 as part of the unemployment programme for that year. The importance of this route, in an area where communications are notably deficient, was held to afford good grounds 359 for the expenditure. I would remind my hon. Friend that important schemes were also assisted in more populous parts of Scotland, as for example the new Edinburgh-Glasgow road, which was of greater magnitude than that to which he refers.
§ Sir P. FORDIs it not a fact that a great deal of this, to my mind, unnecessary expense is due to too rigid an application of a rule regarding gradients, which is well worth while in England but in areas of the character of the Highlands causes unnecessary expense?