§ 23. Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the work of completing the linking of the Lochportain road to the main county road in North Uist is to begin.
§ Lord John HopeSubstantial expenditure is already being incurred in providing roads between the townships concerned and work on these will continue for about another year. My right hon. Friend will be prepared to consider the further work referred to by the hon. Member if and when the county council accord it the necessary priority.
§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanIs the hon. Member aware that some tens of thousands of pounds were spent by the Labour Government on the main scheme to link these townships with the main county road to North Uist? Is it not a piece of imbecile extravagance to leave a road nine-tenths finished and petering out into a bog, when a little more expenditure now would finish the job and connect the right hon. Member's own tenants with the rest of the area? When is the right hon. Member going to develop his sense of stewardship to his own tenants who have been stuck on a bleak peninsula without a road for nearly 30 years?
§ Lord John HopeWhen the hon. Member studies my reply, he will see that the Secretary of State's sense of stewardship is unimpaired.