HC Deb 29 January 1964 vol 688 cc339-40
10. Mr. Ross

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hydroelectricity schemes undertaken by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board have proceeded without public inquiry.

Mr. Noble

Thirty-one, Sir.

Mr. Ross

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that that Answer more or less proves that what he has now done in respect of the Laidon scheme, which is being held up even though there are no objections, by his insistence on a public inquiry, is unprecedented? Will he inform his right hon. Friend the Prime Minister that he has chosen his constituency in which to hold up the modernisation of the Highlands?

Mr. Noble

Anything which is done for the first time is unprecedented, but that does not necessarily mean that it is wrong. I am sure that the Prime Minister knows where Loch Laidon is.

Mr. Ross

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. W. Hamilton), the Prime Minister said that hydro-electric schemes had been held up because there were objections? Here is one in the Prime Minister's own constituency which is being held up and where there are no objections.

Mr. Noble

I accept that that is so.

Mr. T. Fraser

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why it is necessary to have a public inquiry when there are no objections?

Mr. Noble

I explained this to the House at Question Time a fortnight ago. The whole problem of whether the use of hydro-electricity is economic is just as important to the Highlands as to the rest of Scotland and seems to be a sensible reason for an inquiry. Hon. Members opposite may not care whether things are economic, but I can assure them that the Highlands do.

Mr. Ross

I agree that the right hon. Gentleman explained it a fortnight ago, but he should tell the House that, following his explanation, he sent me a letter telling me that the information he had given was wrong.

Mr. Noble

I am prepared to admit it when I am wrong. I wrote, rightly and courteously, to the hon. Gentleman saying that in giving the information to the House I used the phrase "capital costs", which was a kind of shorthand. However, it was wrong and I should have said "on what terms capital should be offered to finance electricity".