§ 13. Mr. Buchananasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies he has made of the costs in respect of the City of Glasgow of new road construction on the surface compared with the costs of tunnelling of roads.
§ Dr. Dickson MabonMy right hon. Friend made no detailed studies, because unfavourable underground conditions in 1350 Glasgow are known to make tunnelling costs prohibitive.
§ Mr. BuchananI am disappointed that my hon. Friend does not set these studies in motion, because it is obvious that the solution to our traffic problems does not lie on the surface. When one takes into consideration the replacement of industries, commercial undertakings, houses, and the loss of rateable value to the city, the cost of tunnelling must bear very closely to that of surface roads. I ask my hon. Friend to have another look at this matter.
§ Dr. MabonIn the first instance, this is a matter for the Corporation, and we are quite satisfied that the Glasgow Corporation, with its consulting engineers, made a very thorough initial investigation of Glasgow's traffic problems and of the matter raised in the Question when the system of major surface routes which we are building was planned. My hon. Friend will know that London, where excavation is easier because of the London clay, has an advantage over Glasgow, where the strata stretches from running sand to the hardest rock. I may add that the running sand is in Pollok, Cathcart and Hillhead.