§ 42. Miss Harvie Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what special arrangements he has made for Ministerial consideration of the industrial development of the Clyde estuary and valley.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Norman Buchan)All major planning applications for large scale industrial developments of the kind and in the area covered by the Clyde Estuary Development Study will be referred to my right hon. Friend for decision. I do not expect any other special arrangements to be necessary.
§ Miss AndersonDoes the hon. Gentleman net think it rather curious that there is an inquiry of a very small order going on at present, the result of which may affect the whole concept, and would it not have been much better to have had joint Ministerial responsibility for the whole concept at the outset?
§ Mr. BuchanOf course, there is always this kind of discussion with the Ministers of other relevant Departments. However, I think that the procedure adopted at present is the correct one.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellWill the Government regard the whole question of co-ordination of the developments in the Clyde estuary as a very urgent matter? It is becoming extremely important, because some of the deepest water round Britain is in the Clyde and will be needed for the larger tankers and bulk carriers which are coming?
§ Mr. BuchanWe are conscious of the importance of these projects. That is why we are pleased that a Government who believe in planning are there while it is going ahead.