HC Deb 04 July 1979 vol 969 cc1352-3
6. Mr. Galbraith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he is involved in the development of roads in the city of Glasgow.

Mr. Rifkind

My right hon. Friend makes each year an overall allocation of capital resources to Strathclyde regional council for the provision and improvement of public transport and roads within the region. Within that allocation the regional council decides which road schemes it wishes to proceed.

Mr. Galbraith

As a road, by its very nature, affects a wide area and is therefore of more than local interest, and when so much taxpayers' money is involved, should not the Secretary of State take a greater interest, and will my hon. Friend agree that some road proposals, such as that for a road to go through Glasgow Green—

Mr. William Hamilton

Reading.

Mr. Galbraith

I do not know what the hon. Gentleman is talking about—the road proposed to go through Glasgow Green, the Crow Road expressway in my constituency, and, formerly, the Great Western Road project;—

Mr. William Hamilton

Reading all the time.

Mr. Galbraith

Will you please shut up?

Mr. Speaker

Order. No one could have been quieter than I was. Will the hon. Gentleman come to a conclusion?

Mr. Galbraith

I am trying to do just that, Mr. Speaker, and if hon. Members opposite did not interrupt so much I might be able to get to the point, which is that the roads which I have mentioned—the proposed road across Glasgow Green, the Crow Road expressway, and formerly the Great Western Road scheme—involve issues of aesthetic and environmental interest and financial—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman is not being fair to the rest of the House. It was not just that he was interrupted. It was a very long supplementary question.

Mr. Rifkind

I know that my hon. Friend is voicing a matter which is of interest and concern to some of his constituents. I think that he will be aware that the proposals for the Crow Road expressway in particular have been before the regional council and the local authority since 1965. They were subject to extensive public consultation on the part of the local authority and also involved a public local inquiry into a compulsory purchase order. I am sure that my hon. Friend will agree that on a matter which is essentially local it is right and proper that Strathclyde regional council, which is the relevant authority, should decide its own priorities on the basis of what it believes to be appropriate.