HC Deb 14 April 1976 vol 909 c1355
2. Mr. Thompson

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pay an official visit to Glenluce.

Mr. Millan

I have at present no plans to do so.

Mr. Thompson

I offer my congratulations to the right hon. Gentleman.

Under the old dispensation the Gretna-Dumfries section of the A75 received a ministerial visit. May we in Galloway hope that under the new dispensation we shall achieve parity of ministerial esteem with our good neighbours in Dumfries? Specifically, will the right hon. Gentleman send someone to Glenluce to look at the extreme difficulty of reconciling the needs of shopkeepers, pedestrians and juggernauts in that small village?

Mr. Millan

I hope that under this Administration all parts of Scotland will have equal cause to feel grateful for the Government's treatment of them. I think that the hon. Gentleman knows that the subject of this particular road was raised in an Adjournment debate to which I replied some time ago. The regional council is looking at the question of the new line for the trunk road at present. Until it has completed its study, I do not think that we can make further progress.

Mr. Monro

If the Minister goes to Wigtownshire, will he make a point of visiting the RAF Station at West Freugh and pointing out to the RAF and civilian personnel there that were there to be separation and a Scottish Government, as advocated by the SNP, they would all be out of a job?

Mr. Millan

Yes, I shall make that visit and make that point. That is only one of numerous examples of unemployment that an SNP Government—an unlikely event—would cause for Scotland.