HC Deb 26 May 1965 vol 713 cc586-7
10. Mr. Russell Johnston

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take action to ensure that the construction of the Kyleakin Fishermen's Pier is proceeded with at the earliest opportunity.

Mr. Ross

As the hon. Member has been informed, the County Council of Inverness is considering modifications to the plans for the pier, and until these have been settled it is not possible to issue a statutory authorisation for the works proposed.

Mr. Johnston

Would not the Secretary of State agree that it is quite wrong that the British Transport Commission should be able to hold up a scheme like this by legalistic quibbling over a small sum of money for such a very long time? While it is true that authorisation is pending, is it not the fact that the initiative for the delay comes from the Department and not from the county council? Will the right hon. Gentleman assure me that the Department will do everything in its power to bring the matter to a speedy conclusion?

Mr. Ross

The hon. Gentleman should not ask me to do anything very improper here, because the person who has to adjudicate in respect of, and take into account, objections, is myself, and it would be quite wrong for me to prejudice that objectivity for which I am fairly well known throughout Scotland by a statement of the kind he invites me to make.