HC Deb 08 December 1959 vol 615 cc200-1
8. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that Government policy, as indicated in the Review of Highland Policy, Command Paper No. 785, is being negatived by cuts now being made in railway services in the north and north-east of Scotland; and, in view of this, what steps he is taking to implement Government policy as indicated in that Command Paper.

Mr. Maclay

The modification of these railway services is a matter for the British Transport Commission and has been agreed by the Transport Users Consultative Committee. The future development of transport services is under examination by the Scottish Transport Council and the Highland Panel.

Mr. Hughes

Has not the Secretary of State for a long time been advocating the industrialisation and repopulation of the Highlands, and is not this step with regard to the railways negativing that and lessening the possibility of developing the Highlands of Scotland as they should be developed, particularly Aberdeenshire and the north-east of Scotland? Will he look into that?

Mr. Maclay

I am extremely concerned that transport facilities and services in the Highlands should be appropriate to the need. Whether it should be road or rail and how the services are to be properly co-ordinated are questions of great importance.

Mr. Woodburn

Will the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind that it is impossible in the Highlands to regard the question as purely one of economic payability and that the planning of the Highlands is not something which can be done in the meantime on purely economic grounds but must be done on the basis of preserving the Highlands for the future?

Mr. Maclay

I agree that there must always be a balance between the immediate economics and the long-term future.