§ 21. Mr. Russell Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make a statement on the policy of the Government towards the extension of hydro-electric development in Scotland.
§ Mr. JohnstonIs the Secretary of State aware that we have been waiting a long time for this decision? I hope that he will press ahead with it urgently. Will he, in coming to his decision, bear in mind especially the disinflationary nature of hydro-generation, as instanced by Galloway, which in the past 30 years has halved its costs, though most thermal costs have doubled in the same period?
§ Mr. RossI shall bear all these relevant factors in mind when I come to a conclusion. Until I do, I cannot issue a report.
§ Mr. William HamiltonWould my right hon. Friend give an assurance that he will not be influenced, as other Governments have been, by Aims of Industry and other reactionary bodies in stultifying investment altogether?
§ Mr. NobleWill the right hon. Gentleman also give the House an assurance—I appreciate that he told us that this was a very long and complicated report—that he will try to make up his mind about it soon, because there are a great many employees of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and other people who are very interested?
§ Mr. RossYes, indeed. I think that the right hon. Gentleman might have remembered that some years ago.