HC Deb 25 January 1955 vol 536 cc17-8
29. Mr. Rankin

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress which has been made so far towards the development of a new town at Cumbernauld.

Mr. J. Stuart

Glasgow Corporation are at present considering certain further suggestions I put to them at a meeting I had with them on 25th November last, and I have no doubt that they will be submitting their reply at an early date.

Mr. Rankin

While thanking the Secretary of State for that reply, may I ask whether he would consider this further suggestion, that he should ascertain from Glasgow Corporation what contribution it would be willing to pay in respect of every house in the proposed new town allotted to persons on Glasgow's waiting list; and secondly, would he consider dropping altogether the question of Glasgow sharing in the over-all deficit with the consequent right of nomination to the Development Corporation?

Mr. Stuart

As I have informed the Corporation, I shall be very glad to consider any counter-proposals which it may choose to put forward. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his first suggestion, and I can assure him that that is one of the points which I have already put before the Corporation. As to the hon. Gentleman's second point, I think it would be fair if the Corporation, the Treasury and the receiving authority—Dunbarton County Council in this case—were to share the deficit, but, as I have said, I am willing to consider any counter-proposals.

Mr. Rankin

Is the Secretary of State aware that the suggestion I have put forward is not my own but was made by the Secretary of the Glasgow branch of the Town and Country Planning Association? Will the right hon. Gentleman consider the second of the two points that I have put forward?

Mr. Stuart

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman and I will certainly consider it.

Mr. Hannan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the proposal which he has submitted to the Glasgow Corporation is an infringement and an evasion of the New Towns Act, and that it is quite unprecedented in the case of any of the new towns which have already been built, especially down here in the South?

Mr. Stuart

It may be a new proposal, but I was not aware that it was outwith the terms of the Act.