§ 51. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a further statement on the steamer services to the North Isles of Orkney.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonI regret I am not in a position to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member on 9th June because the necessary discussions have taken longer than expected.
§ Mr. GrimondIs the hon. Gentleman aware that many people in Orkney would like to join with the Government in expressing regret at the death of Mr. McGillivray who has been conducting these inquiries for a long time? Will the hon. Gentleman say something about the form which further inquiries will take in view of Mr. McGillivray's death?
§ Mr. MacphersonI associate the Government with the expression of sympathy which the hon. Gentleman has made on the death of Mr. McGillivray who, as the hon. Gentleman knows, was a very great help in this matter. However, I assure the hon. Gentleman that discussions will go on just the same. In fact, we had already passed the stage where Mr. McGillivray was vital to our discussions.