HC Deb 22 December 1971 vol 828 cc1502-4
25. Mr. Lawson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what judgment he has formed on the commercial potential for Scotland of Ocean span; and what steps he is taking to realise this potential.

27. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in discussions concerning the project, Oceanspan.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

I had a useful further discussion with representatives of the Scottish Council, Development and Industry, on 3rd December. The concepts embodied in the Oceanspan report need further development before individual projects can be founded upon them and the Scottish Office is cooperating with the council to this end.

Mr. Lawson

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that this is perhaps the most imaginative scheme that has been brought forward for many years and that perhaps one of the greatest potentials that Scotland has is that it lies astride the Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea? If we are to gain advantages by our entry into the E.E.C., which many of us are very much in favour of, we would expect the Government to push ahead strenously with this most imaginative project.

Mr. Campbell

I have been supporting the committee which produced this report for the last three years, including its original interim report two and a half years ago, which I welcomed, and its first and second Oceanspan reports. I agree that this is an imaginative proposal. That is why I and the Scottish Office are doing all we can to translate it into action.

Mr. Hamilton

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is a reflection on the Scottish Office that such an imaginative proposal should be put by an outside body? Should not this kind of long-term thinking be done in the Scottish Office?

Mr. Campbell

I do not accept that. Long-term thinking on these lines has been going on in the Scottish Office which has been co-operating with the Scottish Council, which set up this body. There has been co-operation in this matter between the Government and the Scottish Council.

Mr. Brewis

Is it not the case that similar projects have been put up in other parts of Europe? Is time therefore not of the essence?

Mr. Campbell

Yes, Sir. The Hunters-ton Development Company has been set up specially to use some of the expertise which has already been applied on the Continent.

Dr. Dickson Mabon

Oceanspan depends by definition on the improvement of the harbours in the West, particularly Hunterston. Why is the Clyde Port Authority not being encouraged by the Scottish Office to make application under Sections 4 and 6 of the Harbours Act for loans to get on with the building of the general harbour which the right hon. Gentleman approved after the Hunterston inquiry?

Mr. Campbell

I made the planning decision which gave approval to all that is required and it is now up to the various other bodies, including the Clyde Port Authority, to take the necessary action. All these bodies are anxious to get ahead with these proposals.