§ 6. Mr. Maclennanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has completed his consideration of the proposals of the Highlands and Islands Development Board regarding the complement of its staff.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellThere are no such proposals outstanding.
§ Mr. MaclennanWhen the Under-Secretary of State wrote to me on this subject before the Summer Recess, he indicated that there were such proposals outstanding which the Government were considering. Those proposals related to the number of people employed in the transport division, which amounted at that time to a total of two and a half persons. In view of the critical importance of transport to the Highlands and of the board's role in advising the Government on transport policy—passenger and freight, by air, rail and road—does not the Secretary of State consider that that number is too small, and will he advise the board to increase its complement in order to enable it adequately to continue to fulfil this important role?
§ Mr. CampbellThe request for an additional transport post referred to, which was made in July, has been dealt with, and there are now no further proposals on this from the board. However, I am always ready to consider any proposals which it may wish to put to me.