HC Deb 18 March 1964 vol 691 cc1360-2
13. Mrs. Hart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if as part of the development plan for Central Scotland, he has yet made the reappraisal of the need for continued and improved transport facilities to serve East Kilbride, as suggested by the hon. Member for Lanark on 8th January.

Mr. G. Campbell

As regards rail and bus services, I would refer the hon. Member to the letter which my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Transport sent to her on 13th March. As regards roads, certain improvement work is at preent taking place and other improvements are in prospect.

Mrs. Hart

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for that reply, may I ask him why the Secretary of State himself has not replied to my letter of two months ago? The letter was addressed separately to him and not to the Minister of Transport. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the Minister of Transport said that despite the naming of East Kilbride as a major growth point in the plan for the economic growth of Central Scotland, it is not possible for the Government even to look at the transport services needed for it? Is not that an utterly ludicrous situation? Is he further aware that my views on this matter are those of the people of the new town of East Kilbride and that they are shared by the Unionist and Conservative Association in my constituency.

Mr. Campbell

Most of the points which the hon. Lady raised in her letter to the Secretary of State fell within the responsibility of the Minister of Transport, who therefore replied to her. We are as concerned as she is to improve the road and rail communications in and around East Kilbride.

Mrs. Hart

Why does the hon. Gentleman hold that consideration of the policy of the economic growth of Central Scotland is a matter for the Minister of Transport? It was the link between that policy and the rail facilities of East Kilbride that I inquired about in the letter?

Mr. Campbell

My right hon. Friend will be very glad to write to the hon. Lady about any outstanding points concerning the growth area. The particular matters in her letter were about communications and, therefore, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport replied. That is the explanation. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State will, of course, take up any point which concerns him regarding the growth area.

Miss Harvie Anderson

In view of my hon. Friend's earlier reply, will he undertake to impress upon the Minister of Transport the need to retain the line which the hon. Lady the Member for Lanark (Mrs. Hart) and I are so concerned about?

Mr. Campbell

I take note of what my hon. Friend says.

Mr. Ross

Since the line is to go, it is difficult to know what the hon. Gentleman means when he says the Government want to improve the rail facilities in this area. In Scotland we have been flooded with reassurances that we have nothing to worry about because the Secretary of State is looking after it all. In that case, why does not the Secretary of State reply to letters?

Mr. Campbell

The question of passenger services being removed has not arisen because it has not yet been advertised. When it does come up, it will be considered by the Government, who will take into consideration all the points which have been mentioned from this Box, including the economic needs of the growth area.