HC Deb 05 April 1989 vol 150 cc178-9
4. Mr. Tom Clarke

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next expects to meet the Scottish Development Agency to discuss job prospects for Scotland arising from the Channel tunnel project.

Mr. Rifkind

I will be meeting the agency board on 22 May to discuss a range of issues of mutual interest. If the agency wishes to discuss job prospects arising from the Channel tunnel at this meeting, or otherwise, I shall be glad to do so.

Mr. Clarke

Does the Secretary of State agree that if Scots are to experience a fair share of the jobs which may be available from 1992 and the Channel tunnel, investment in rail and road is absolutely essential? In particular, does he agree with the Freightliner working party about the enormous potential of the Coatbridge-Gartcosh location for the superfreight terminal, provided that there is adequate infrastructure—including a new junction from the M73 motorway—to make the project a success?

Mr. Rifkind

I am interested by what the hon. Gentleman says. British Rail is already considering sites, including Gartcosh, as part of the Channel Tunnel Act 1987 section 40 consultations and its plans will be published towards the end of this year. On roads, the Government are committed to improving the A74 to motorway standard. That will make a crucial difference because it will integrate Scotland's motorway network with that of the rest of the United Kingdom.

Sir Russell Johnston

Does the Secretary of State agree that it would be in his own interests to respond positively to the question that has just been addressed to him and that if he did it might increase the number of Scottish Back Bench Tory Members present from one?

Mr. Rifkind

I am not certain of the relevance of the hon. Gentleman's question. Scottish Conservative Members have a considerably better voting record in the House than the hon. Gentleman or his hon. Friends.

Mr. Stern

Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that there will be no job prospects in Scotland from the Channel tunnel so long as the railway unions are unable to control their old-fashioned Socialist members, as was the case on the London Underground this morning?

Mr. Rifkind

The encouraging sign for job prospects is that Scottish companies have already been extremely successful. More than 20 Scottish companies have been successful in winning contracts for the Channel tunnel, which represents orders of £65 million and 14 per cent. of all orders so far. Clearly, Scottish companies have been doing well in winning such a high proportion of overall orders in open competition.

Mr. Wilson

Does the Secretary of State recognise that there will be considerable disappointment at the blandness of his replies to the pertinent questions asked by my hon. Friends? Can he give any indication of Scottish Office involvement in planning for the Channel tunnel, including the crucial questions about the routes to be followed by rail links in the south? Is it not time that the Scottish Office broke its slumber on this and showed some recognition of the potentially enormous adverse consequences if there are not fast, direct links between the tunnel and Scotland?

Mr. Rifkind

For once, the hon. Gentleman seems to have written his supplementary questions before hearing the exchanges. He referred to the way in which I responded to questions from his hon. Friends, but there has been only one such question and I responded positively to it. We attach great importance to the link with the Channel tunnel being suitable for the requirements of Scotland and other parts of the United Kingdom. My hon. Friends and I have had several meetings with the chairman and other officials of British Rail and we are in close contact not only with British Rail but with the Department of Transport. I entirely endorse the view that it is crucial that the opportunities offered by the Channel tunnel should be available not just in the south of England, but to the rest of England, Scotland, Wales and the United Kingdom as a whole.