HC Deb 31 January 1968 vol 757 cc1327-8
9. Mr. Clark Hutchison

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the review his Department has been holding with Edinburgh Corporation about traffic and transport problems in the city is yet completed.

Dr. Dickson Mabon

With respect, I am not quite sure what review the hon. Member has in mind. Edinburgh Corporation is now considering the letter which my right hon. Friend sent to it on 9th January indicating his provisional decisions on its proposals for a new road network; and a study is being made of transportation and land uses in the whole of East Central Scotland.

Mr. Clark Hutchison

I understood that the Minister was helping Edinburgh Corporation. Does he realise that, with what is proposed in the Transport Bill regarding railways and difficulties about the ring road, we do not know where they are and that there is utter confusion in Edinburgh? Will he not bring forward some scheme so that the citizens may know what is happening?

Dr. Mabon

After the letter of 9th January, my right hon. Friend advised me on things I could say to Edinburgh Corporation when I met them on 12th January. These were extensively reported in the Press. We hope that the transportation study for East Central Scotland will be ready by the end of the year. As to the specific matter arising from the public inquiry on the quinquennial review, that matter is being considered by the Corporation next month I understand. We hope thereafter to get ahead with both the internal Edinburgh study and other matters affecting the whole question.

Earl of Dalkeith

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that tremendous improvement could be made in Edinburgh by having one-way streets in many places with very little public expenditure? Is his Department giving as much help as possible to the Corporation in looking into this?

Dr. Mabon

The Corporation has done some work in this regard which has not always been appreciated publicly. The suggestion made by the hon. Member will be borne in mind.