HC Deb 05 February 1969 vol 777 cc389-90
18. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is expected to make a start on the construction of the Fife regional road linking the Forth and Tay Road Bridges.

Mr. Ross

The proposals for an East Fife road linking the Forth Bridge to the Kirkcaldy area are not yet finalised. It will be included within the roads programme for the 1970's, but it is too early to assign a starting date on its priority in relation to other schemes in Scotland.

Mr. Hamilton

Does my right hon. Friend recognise that if the East of Scotland is to be developed, particularly the part between the Tay and the Forth, this road scheme must be treated with much greater urgency than hitherto? Will he reconsider the order of priorities?

Mr. Ross

I do not think that we can reconsider just like that the order of priorities in this one part of Scotland without taking into account important schemes affecting other parts. My hon. Friend will be the first to appreciate that there are other places which merit consideration in respect of main road programmes.

Sir J. Gilmour

Will the right hon. Gentleman not agree that the amount of traffic between the Kirkcaldy and Glenrothes area of Tayside merits the immediate making of the Kirkcaldy—Tay Bridge Road into a trunk road?

Mr. Ross

I do not think that it warrants it at the moment. The hon. Gentleman should appreciate that there may be differences of opinion even in his own area as to what should be the first priorities.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

As this road would link two toll bridges, will the right hon. Gentleman give a straight answer to this question? Has he changed his mind on the indefensibility of charging tolls on bridges since the publication of the Labour Party booklet entitled "Signposts for Scotland"?

Mr. Ross

The hon. Gentleman is nothing if not persistent, but that has nothing to do with this Question.