§ 18. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the Dundee development plan from Dundee Corporation; when he returned it to the Corporation; and why his consideration of the plan was so prolonged.
§ Mr. MaclayThe plan was submitted in June, 1956, and my conclusions were conveyed to the corporation last month. This is not an unusually long period for the examination of a major development plan where objections involving a public inquiry are lodged, as they were in this case.
§ Mr. ThomsonIs the Secretary of State aware that there is a well-founded suspicion in Dundee that the delay was due to the fact that he was dithering over whether to go ahead with preparations for a Tay Road Bridge? I hope that he will redeem his indecisiveness tomorrow, when we bring a deputation of the local authorities concerned to meet his upon the subject of a Tay Road Bridge.
§ Mr. MaclayThe suspicion to which the hon. Member referred is, of course, 175 not well founded. The question of a Tay Road Bridge is a separate matter, and, although I agree that it links up to some extent with the development plan, I do not want to say anything in advance of the deputation which, as the hon. Member says, is coming to see me.