HC Deb 30 November 1977 vol 940 cc495-6
18. Mr. Crawford

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to visit Perth.

Mr. Gregor MacKenzie

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

Mr. Crawford

If the Minister does come to Perth, will he carry on for 30 miles up the A9 to Forfar and then condemn the disgraceful state of that road? Will he also condemn the fact that the Government have made available only £10,000 a mile for repair and maintenance? Is this not disgraceful, particularly since this is the main oil route in Scotland?

Mr. MacKenzie

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has no plans to go to Perth. I have no doubt that he would answer a Question about roads if the hon. Member tabled one on that subject.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Is the Minister aware that members of the SNP neither gave evidence nor made submissions to a recent public inquiry on the status of roads in that area?

Mr. MacKenzie

That does not surprise me, particularly since they cannot be bothered to table proper Questions.

Mr. Dalyell

Is my right hon. Friend aware that about 10 years ago a certain Prime Minister from Bexley, Sidcup made a declaration at Perth? Can he ascertain from the Conservative Front Bench the answer to a question that we have been unable to ascertain during the progress of the Scotland Bill? Can he find out whether the right hon. Member for Cambridgeshire (Mr. Pym) and the hon. Member for Cleveland and Whitby (Mr. Brittan) still believe in any kind of Assembly at all, because this is a mystery to us?

Mr. MacKenzie

If my right hon. Friend goes to Perth, I doubt whether he will go on such a circuitous route.

Later—

Mr. Welsh

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. May I ask what is the best method of correcting a false statement that was made during Question Time by the hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith), who said that no Scottish National Party representative had given evidence to the public roads inquiry held in Dundee? I gave written evidence to the inquiry—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Welsh) asked for my advice. The best place for him to make his speech is in Scotland. It is out of order to pursue the matter now.