HC Deb 04 March 1964 vol 690 cc1301-3
35. Mr. Millan

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the memorandum on rail closures submitted to him by the Highland Panel.

Mr. Stodart

No, Sir. My right hon. Friend has not yet received the report of the Highland Panel: nor can he give any undertaking to publish it when he does.

Mr. Millan

Why should not this report be published? Is the hon. Member aware that according to Press reports of a meeting between the Highland Panel and the Secretary of State last week, this document contains detailed arguments proving that the Beeching Plan for the north of Scotland is basically misconceived? Are not the public, and are not hon. Members, entitled to know what these arguments are? Why should not this evidence be published so that we may properly judge whether the decisions of Dr. Beeching or the subsequent decisions of the Government about the Highlands railway lines are justified?

Mr. Stodart

The answer is that other reports on this subject, such as the report by the T.U.C.C. to the Minister of Transport, are confidential. I think that my right hon. Friend will probably decide to treat as confidential the report to him of the Highland Transport Board, since some of the information to which the Board has access is of a confidential nature I point out to the hon. Member that consideration of such matters as industrial development possibilities and defence consideration ought to be kept confidential. As I have said, I do not think it right to publish partial statements.

Mr. Millan

Whatever the importance of keeping all defence consideration; confidential, is the Minister honestly saying that we should keep industrial development considerations confidential? Are the Government so frightened of what is happening to the Highlands that they are unable to let this information be made public? The Government art continually saying that all economic and social considerations are being taken into account before railway closures are made. Why should not this report be published so that we may all judge whether the Government are doing their job properly?

Mr. Stodart

I assure the hon. Member that the Government are not frightened about what is happening in the Highlands or anywhere else. I repeat to him the logical proposition that if certain reports are confidential, it is obviously wrong to publish certain others.

Sir J. MacLeod

Will the Minister treat this matter carefully? Much of the success of the Highland Panel is because the deliberations are confidential. Although I, as a member of the Highland Panel, know the contents of this report, I hope that my hon. Friend will treat the matter with the greatest respect, because these deliberations, being confidential, are very valuable, and we do not wish to spoil them.

Mr. Ross

Will the Under-Secretary of State bear in mind that in relation to the rail closures in this area we have had so many statements and rumours, without any names attached, which emanated from St. Andrew's House that we should welcome something as authoritative as the view of the Highland Panel? Will he bear in mind, and will the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty (Sir J. MacLeod) bear in mind, that this is the same Panel which said that if the Government did not do something about it—and the Panel did not make that confidential—the members would resign as a body?