HC Deb 14 February 1961 vol 634 cc1219-21
10. Mr. G. M. Thomson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what decision he has taken regarding an inquiry in to the proposed Glen Nevis hydro-electric scheme.

22. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the future development of hydro-electric schemes in Scotland.

24. Mr. Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the nature of the representations he has received about an inquiry into the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board; and what replies he has given.

27. Mr. Hannan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the increasing concern in the north of Scotland about criticisms which are being made of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board; and if he will make a statement about hydro-electric development.

Mr. Maclay

I am considering various representations which have been made to me in connection with the proposed Glen Nevis hydro-electric scheme and I hope to make a statement shortly.

Mr. Thomson

Will not the Secretary of State tell the House plainly that the work done by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board over a number of years shows the value of such work to the Highlands of Scotland, and that he will firmly set his face against any attempt to hold up hydro-electric development?

Mr. Maclay

The hon. Member knows that on many occasions in this House I have paid high tribute to the work of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. But the Question on the Order Paper related to a specific scheme, and I have given an answer to that.

Mr. Woodburn

On the more general point, is the Minister aware that there has been considerable controversy over this matter, and that representations have been made by the National Trust? Is he aware that I have discovered that there is considerable misunderstanding about the purpose of these hydro-electric schemes?

Mr. Nabarro

There is no misunderstanding here.

Mr. Woodburn

Is he aware that it has been thought that they were in competition with coal, instead of being complementary to coal production? Will not the right hon. Gentleman have some kind of inquiry in order to make clear what are the proposals about the future development of hydro-electric schemes from the point of view of the development of power in Scotland as a whole?

Mr. Maclay

I have noted what the right hon. Member has said. If he reads my original Answer he will see that the whole matter is under review in relation to this scheme.

Mr. Ross

While we appreciate the tributes paid by the Secretary of State in the past, may I ask if he realises that we would appreciate it much more if he stood by what he claims is his feeling for the Board and supported it and did not give way to the underground pressures

Mr. Nabarro

They are not underground, they are on the surface.

Mr. Ross

—pressing against it, who have no interest and have never shown any interest in the Highlands of Scotland?

Mr. Maclay

As the hon. Member knows, every scheme which comes forward is examined with the greatest care, and objections are examined with the greatest care and appropriate action is taken at the right moment.

Mr. Hannan

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us that he will resist the blandishments of outside sources that are putting pressure on him because of their personal interest? Will he inform the Aims of Industry that it is wide of the mark and that it would be serving Scotland much better if it brought some industry to Scotland, where there are 80,000 unemployed, and allowed the Board to get on with its own job?

Mr. Maclay

It would not be appropriate for me to get drawn into discussion at Question Time of various matters of that kind.

Mr. Nabarro

Will not my right hon. Friend agree that the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board has now been operating for eighteen years and has vested a sum approaching £200 million in capital schemes? Having regard to the fact that there has never been any sort of independent inquiry into the operations of this Board, as for example the Herbert Committee inquiry into the electricity supply industry, or the Fleck Committee inquiry into the National Coal Board, is not the time propitious for an independent inquiry to be established into the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board at an early date, to end the controversy?

Mr. Maclay

I do not think that my hon. Friend would expect me to add to my original reply in which I said that I was considering various representations.

21. Mr. Steele

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities have made representations to him against the proposed Glen Nevis hydroelectric scheme; and what has been the nature of his replies.

Mr. Maclay

I have received objections from Inverness County Council and Lochaber District Council. These objections have been communicated to the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, and will be considered with the scheme in accordance with the requirements of the Hydro-Electric Development (Scotland) Act, 1943.

Mr. Steele

I appreciate that there may be some inquiry into the question of the Glen Nevis hydro-electric scheme itself—that is in accordance with the Act—but would the Secretary of State give an assurance that he is not considering any form of general inquiry into the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board because, in effect, a Select Committee of this House actually did this operation and came to very favourable conclusions?

Mr. Maclay

I am not prepared to go further than I did in answer to an earlier Question.