§ 30. Mr. Steeleasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the two major schemes on trunk road A.74 in the County of Lanark have now been authorised; and when he expects work on these schemes will commence.
§ Mr. MaclayNegotiations for the acquisition of land for the scheme from Auldton Heights to a point south of Millbank are in progress. I hope to authorise a start soon so that work can begin before the end of this year. Lanarkshire County Council is preparing the scheme for diversions at Abington and Crawford; I hope that this scheme will be authorised next year and that work will begin early in 1959.
§ Mr. SteeleIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the first scheme he mentioned was announced in the House in February, 1955, and that we are now being told that the land has not been acquired? Can he give any undertaking that the work will start this year?
§ Mr. MaclayI cannot go beyond what I have said because it would be rash to state anything so accurately in time until it has actually happened. The reasons for delay were discussed very fully in Committee, and it is difficult to get all the land acquisition procedure through as quickly as we should like.
§ Mr. John MacLeodOn a point of order, Mr. Speaker. With regard to the Question about putting electricity supply cables underground, I have been in correspondence for some years——
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member is a Question late.