Perth (Hansard, 26 January 1977)

§ 7. Mr. Crawford
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to visit Perth.

§ The Minister of State, Scottish Office (Mr. Gregor MacKenzie)
My right hon. Friend plans to be in Perth in March, during the annual conference of the Labour Party in Scotland.

§ Mr. Crawford
In asking the Minister a question about the M90 motorway between Perth and Edinburgh, I place on record the fact that very little blame attaches to either himself or his Department for the delay in starting the construction of the road between Bridge of Earn and Glen Farg. He knows as well as I do that extraneous matters have intervened. Will he now, however, bring forward to 1978 the starting date for that gap on the M90 motorway between Bridge of Earn and Glen Farg?

§ Mr. MacKenzie
If the hon. Gentleman wants a specific answer to a question of that kind, he must table a specific Question.

§ Mr. Lipton
When the Minister next visits Scotland, will he investigate the extent to which gas explosions and gas leaks have taken place in that country and persuade the Scottish Gas Council not to follow the pernicious example of the English gas boards in charging people who report gas leaks to them?

§ Mr. MacKenzie
Both my right hon. Friend and others of my hon. Friends at the Scottish Office are there every weekend, and, indeed, a great deal more often. My hon. Friend's point about gas explosions is, of course, a matter of great concern to us, and the procedures are currently being examined.

§ Mr. Teddy Taylor
When at Perth, will the Secretary of State call at the successful Scottish enterprise, the General Accident Insurance Company, and ask that company whether it agrees with the Scottish Life Offices that the Scottish National Party's economic plans for independence 1479 could ruin their business and put at risk many thousands of Scottish jobs?

§ Mr. MacKenzie
My right hon. Friend's time may not permit him to make such a visit during that weekend, but I think that the hon. Gentleman's point has been taken by all of us on the Government Front Bench.