§ 40. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Minister of Transport whether he has now given further consideration to the establishment of a trunk road through the Island of Skye.
§ Mr. BarnesYes, Sir. Traffic on island roads is not, in general, through traffic of the kind for which the trunk road system is provided, and I cannot therefore justify the establishment of a trunk road through the Island of Skye.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that if there were a decent road through Skye, and a, steamer service from Dunvegan to the outer Islands that would be the best and fastest surface route to the outer Islands? In view of the tourist trade and of trade generally in the Highlands, would he not reconsider the matter?
§ Mr. BarnesI cannot add anything to the statement I have made already.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonIn view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.
§ 41. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Minister of Transport whether any special provision is to be made in the near future for the improvement of Highland roads for strategic purposes.
§ Mr. BarnesA close liaison is maintained between the Service Departments and my engineers in order to ensure that defence requirements are not overlooked in the allocation of funds for road works.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonDo I understand from that reply that a special allocation is being made? Can the Minister give an assurance that no attempt is being made by the Government to curtail in any way expenditure by local authorities on unclassified roads?
§ Mr. BarnesThat raises two different matters. I would like the noble Lord to put down a Question on the second point. In regard to the point about defence, it appears to me that he is endeavouring to get me to make a statement on the degree of consultation, which I think would be undesirable.
§ 42. Lord Malcolm Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to make ferries in the Highlands and Islands part of the highway.
§ Mr. BarnesI hope that there will be an opportunity before long of introducing a Measure to assist in bringing ferries into closer integration with the highway system.
§ Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonDoes not the Minister recollect that he has been promising that for nearly a year? Can he make a statement soon about this, so that we can know when this integration will take place?
§ Mr. BarnesI would remind the noble Lord that for an exceedingly long time nothing was done with regard to ferries. Under this Government at least an investigation has taken place and the draft legislation is almost complete. When time will be found to deal with it is another matter.