§ 35. Mr. McInnesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the large volume of opinion in Scotland in favour of another new town to deal with Glasgow's overspill problem; and if he will undertake to designate such a new town.
§ Mr. MaclayI am aware that this opinion has been expressed in certain quarters, and, as I have said before, the possibility of another new town at the appropriate time is not ruled out. At the present stage in the overspill operation, however, this would be a wasteful diversion of experience and effort, which would 196 not, in my opinion, hasten the resettlement of industry and families.
§ Mr. McInnesIs the Secretary of State aware that I cannot appreciate what he means by "in certain quarters"? Is he aware that building consultants and architects who are directly or indirectly involved in the Glasgow overspill problem are unanimous and emphatic in stressing the need for further overspill? For the past two years the right hon. Gentleman has been saying that another new town will come along at the appropriate time. When?
§ Mr. MaclayIt is much too early to say. We are anxious to get on with the very complicated overspill operation, which architects and everyone else want, as fast as we can before we complicate the issue by plans for another new town.
§ Mr. T. FraserWhat does the right hon. Gentleman mean by saying that building another new town now would lead to dispersal of effort? Has not the right hon. Gentleman available to him in Scotland, not only in the great local authorities but in the existing new town corporations, staff and other people who could proceed with work on a third new town, if it were designated?
§ Mr. MaclayI am advised that our resources are very fully strained with the Cumbernauld new town and other overspill operations in progress, and that we would be well advised to get on with what we are doing as well as we can, and to consider this other proposal in due course.