§ 20. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any further experiments are to be carried out with hovercraft or hydrofoils in Scotland.
§ Mr. RossI have no plans for experiments at present, but the right hon. Gentleman will be aware that a company has plans to introduce hovercraft services on the Clyde.
§ Mr. GrimondI am very glad to hear that. Would the Secretary of State agree that the development of these craft could be very fruitful for British industry and that we are badly in need of new methods of serving the Islands in Scotland? Though the experiments in my constituency ran into some mechanical trouble, in certain respects they were promising and it would be a pity to let them die completely.
§ Mr. RossYes, that is true. The question of the nature of the waters being flown over enters into this and one sometimes makes irrelevant comparisons between the functions of this type of unorthodox craft in different types of water. I am perfectly certain that MacBraynes and other operators who function there will be watching the trials which are going on and will be prepared, as is the Highland Transport Board, to get in touch with me if it is thought there is any desirable introduction of such a scheme elsewhere.