§ 17. Mr. William Hannanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now considered the representations of Glasgow Corporation about the existing financial arrangements for the construction of motorways within the city and beyond the city boundary; and what was the nature of his reply.
§ Mr. YoungerMy right hon. Friend has informed the corporation that he sees no justification for a change in the present grant arrangements at this time.
§ Mr. HannanIn view of that answer, does the hon. Gentleman agree that the present financial arrangements bear inequitably on the citizens of Glasgow, who have to pay 25 per cent. towards the construction of roads in the city, whereas the citizens of adjoining burghs find that the Exchequer bears the whole brunt? Why should my constituency have its community broken up and be decimated by a highway to provide a route into the city centre for commuters from Bearsden and Milngavie?
§ Mr. YoungerThe hon. Gentleman's latter point is an interesting one which I shall want to consider. As for the general arrangements, they are not unreasonable, as the provision of a motorway of this sort has substantial benefits for traffic patterns in the city. Whereas the central Government pay 75 per cent. and the city authority should pay 25 per cent. in the case of Glasgow, of that 25 per cent. about 14 per cent. comes back to the city in the form of rate support grant. The net cost to the corporation, therefore, is not all that severe, and the resultant benefit is the relief of traffic congestion in the city.