HC Deb 30 June 1976 vol 914 cc369-70
4. Mr. Gray

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding the design of and contract for the Kessock Bridge linking Inverness and Ross and Cromarty.

Mr. McElhone

Contractors wishing to tender for the design and construction of the bridge have been invited to submit their names for my right hon. Friend's consideration.

Mr. Gray

Does the Minister realise that the preliminary pricing and design work could be completed within six months and that the only reason why this bridge is not starting in the spring of 1977 is that the Government have committed far too much of their limited budget on half-baked nationalisation schemes, to the detriment of important projects such as the bridge?

Mr. McElhone

We get this hackneyed message from the Opposition time and again, and it is usually irrelevant to the Question on the Order Paper. The technical, procedural and financial problems involved in the construction of this bridge could take about 18 months to overcome. We do not deny the need for the bridge and our target date is early 1978, though I should add a note of caution and say that this depends on the economic climate at that time.

Mr. Crawford

Is the Minister aware that, if Scotland had access to the revenue from Scottish oil, the Kessock Bridge would have been built long ago?

Mr. McElhone

If we were dependent upon the support of the SNP—[Interruption.] I certainly am not. If one thing is clear lo the public in Scotland, it is that the attitude of the SNP is chasing away investment in Scotland.

Mr. Gray

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the highly unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I intend to raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity. The Minister should resign.

Mr. McElhone

I do not intend to resign before I have answered the next Question.