HC Deb 13 January 1971 vol 809 cc42-3
13. Mr. Adam Hunter

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland for how many new roads in Scotland he has been invited to perform the opening ceremony in 1971; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Younger

Completion of four new trunk road or bridge schemes of sufficient importance to justify opening ceremonies of this kind are envisaged this year and my right hon. Friend is likely to be available to open two of them. In addition, he has so far been invited to open one new local authority scheme.

Mr. Hunter

Does not the Minister agree that this is another highlight in the progressive road-building programme followed by the Labour Government? Will he assure the House that this progress will be maintained?

Mr. Younger

If the hon. Gentleman looks into this, he will find that virtually all these programmes were set out originally in the White Paper produced by the last Conservative Government in 1963. The only thing that makes me slightly sorry is that the previous Government were not able to get on with the programme faster than they did.

Mr. Sillars

Will the Minister tell us whether one of the new roads to be opened in 1971 will be the Ayr bypass? If either the Secretary of State or the Minister performs the opening ceremony, will a promise be given to the people in that area that the bypass will become a dual carriageway road within 12 months?

Mr. Younger

I very much hope that the road mentioned by the hon. Member will be one of those to be opened this year. The type of road that is being built was laid down by his right hon. Friend before I came to office and it is quite impossible for me to alter it at this stage.

Mr. MacArthur

Will my hon. Friend tell the House whether it is his intention to organise an opening ceremony for the Edinburgh—Perth motorway when it is completed one year sooner than planned by the Labour Government'?

Mr. Younger

I certainly hope that it will now be possible to achieve the completion of the M90 motorway to Perth in 1975 instead of 1976 as was proposed by the previous Administration, and I also hope that there will be an opening ceremony appropriate to the occasion.