§ 47. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from interested organisations on the need for improvements in the facilities at Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, in time for the Commonwealth Games; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. HamiltonIf my right hon. Friend takes an interest in this matter, as he obviously must, will he specify what improvements, if any, will be made and completed at this airport before the commencement of the Commonwealth Games?
§ Mr. RossI think my hon. Friend knows my interest in this, both as a Minister and as a user. My main responsibility is for the longer-term development of the airport. I have been in close touch with my right hon. Friend on this. On details this is a matter for the President of the Board of Trade.
§ Sir J. GilmourWill the right hon. Gentleman deny the rumour circulating in Edinburgh that the runway is to be closed for strengthening during the course of the Commonwealth Games?
§ Mr. RossThe hon. Gentleman should pay his own jovial attention to rumours of this sort and dismiss them when they are nonsense.
§ Mr. StodartIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the state of Turnhouse falls far below the hopes expressed for it at this time by his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he received a deputation on this subject in 1965? Can he think of any other country in the world whose Government would tolerate the conditions at Turn-house before an event like the Commonwealth Games?
§ Mr. RossThe hon. Gentleman should not exaggerate. My right hon. Friend will take into account what has been said today.