HC Deb 24 July 1951 vol 491 cc186-7
22. Lieut.-Commander Clark Hutchison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received any report by the Amenity Committee in regard to Constructional Scheme No. 25, the Breadalbane project, of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board.

Mr. McNeil

Yes, Sir, I have received from the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board a copy of the recommendations made by the Amenity Committee on the Breadalbane Scheme, together with the Board's observations upon the recommendations.

Lieut.-Commander Hutchison

Was the report in favour of the scheme or against it? Is it not desirable that the report should be published so that the community may know the facts?

Mr. McNeil

I read the report with great care. I do not think it would be quite proper for me to comment upon it yet. The report is bound to be published since, if the scheme is objected to, there is a statutory obligation to make the report available to an inquiry. If there is no objection, the recommendations will be published in the White Paper which accompanies the scheme on its presentation to the House.

Lieut.-Commander Hutchison

Cannot the right hon. Gentleman say whether the report was favourable to or against the scheme?

Mr. McNeil

I am not going to comment upon it, but I have to make it clear that while the Committee have many recommendations to make—some, in my opinion, very good recommendations— they did, of course, accept the scheme.