HC Deb 20 January 1954 vol 522 cc995-7
32 and 33. Major Anstruther-Gray

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (1) whether he will now grant his authority to improvements in the Queensferry passage ferry facilities, in order that these may come into operation in time for the summer traffic

(2) whether he has yet received a report from the Expert Committee examining Sir Bruce White's scheme for a road bridge over the Forth Railway Bridge; and if he will make a statement.

The Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation (Mr. Alan Lennox-Boyd)

I regret that all three Members of the Panel have been ill and this has delayed their report. I will, however, ask the British Transport Commission to proceed forthwith with the preparatory work for the improvement of the ferry. It would in any case take at least 18 months to complete these improvements, after the plan has been approved.

Major Anstruther-Gray

May we not look forward to some improvement, at any rate this summer, in the ferry service, and, so far as the report of the Committee is concerned, would my right hon. Friend ask for an interim report as soon as these three gentlemen are restored to health so that we may know whether there is any possibility of any good coming out of it, or whether it is really prejudicing further action on the new Forth Road Bridge?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

I hope to get an interim report very quickly. I am conscious that if the report is favourable to Sir Bruce White's proposals then the work on the ferry to that extent will be wasted. Anyhow, it will be a negligible expense in the preparatory stages. If the report is unfavourable, then this work will accelerate the completion of the task on the ferry, but I am afraid there can be no hope that the ferry work can improve the situation in the coming summer. I would make this plea, that the more there is talk about a Forth Bridge the less likelihood there is of getting on with something that is really possible within the next few years.

Mr. Woodburn

Is that last remark indicative of the fact that the Minister has now closed his mind to the possibility of a Forth Road Bridge and that we must concentrate on getting a ferry? Is he saying, in effect, that if we do not want the ferry we will not get the bridge, and if we agitate for the bridge there is not going to be any better ferry? Can he say what the answer to all this is?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

It has been repeatedly pointed out in the House that the Commission cannot be asked to make large expenditure on the ferry if a bridge is to be built very soon, and all I am concerned about is that there should be an improvement as soon as possible in the transport facilities. That is why my answer took the form it did.

Mr. Woodburn

Are we to understand that the Minister is now saying to people who are so perturbed about this, "You must stop talking about a Forth Road Bridge or you will not get a ferry"? Is that a threat?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

Certainly not; I do not make threats. I am anxious that we should concentrate on immediate realities.

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