§ 10. Mr. Fairbairnasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the bypasses for the villages of Blackford, Auchterarder and Aberuthven will be begun; and when they will be completed.
§ Mr. MillanOn present plans and subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures and the availability of finance, I hope that the Blackford Bypass will start in 1977–78. Construction might take about two years. I cannot forecast when the other bypass schemes on the A9 are likely to start, although work is in hand on their preparation.
§ Mr. FairbairnWill the Minister appreciate that life in those three villages has now reached a state of absolute mechanical and barbaric hell for all those who live in them, that it is important that the bypasses for those three villages should be put in hand immediately, and that there is other expenditure that can be postponed in order to meet a serious human need?
§ Mr. MillanI agree that these bypasses are needed. One of them, as I have said, will be started reasonably soon. For the others, it is a question of priorities and finance.