§ 6. Mr. Buchananasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in the construction of the Springburn Expressway in regard to planning, surveying and the acquisition of property; and, as the redevelopment of the whole area is dependent on the construction of the expressway, whether he will now give a date for its completion.
The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Mr. Bruce Milian)The Springburn Expressway is a matter for Glasgow Corporation and Lanark County Council. I understand that the corporation has started preliminary work on planning and surveying, and has acquired some properties which came up for sale. No pro- 1298 posals for the start of construction have been submitted to my right hon. Friend.
§ Mr. BuchananI hope that my hon. Friend will agree that his reply will be the occasion of much disappointment to the people of Springburn and to those who have to travel through the terrible bottleneck in Springburn on their way north? Will he make clear to the city planners that it is absolute folly, in a city that is desperately short of houses, to acquire housing property too far in advance of development? Derelict property becomes a refuge for squatters, an eyesore and nuisance to the inhabitants, and a disincentive to any industrialist thinking of coming to the area. Will my hon. Friend do everything possible to speed up this matter?
§ Mr. MillanAs I have said, no proposals have been put to me and therefore the initiative does not, I think, lie with the Scottish Office at the moment. However, I shall certainly make inquiries about the specific points that my hon. Friend has raised. I realise that uncertainty about the expressway is causing considerable difficulty in the comprehensive development area. I shall be happy to look into these matters. Perhaps my hon. Friend would like to have a word with me about them.