§ LORD TEVIOTMy Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, in view of the recent statement of the Secretary of State for Scotland, they can give an indication as to the date on which work on the Forth Bridge will be started.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD STRATHCLYDE)My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have undertaken to authorise a start on the Forth Road Bridge before March 31, 1959. The precise date of starting will be decided having regard to general economic circumstances.
§ LORD OGMOREMy Lords, may I ask what effect, if any, this statement will have on the start of the Severn-Wye Bridge? LORD STRATHCLYDE: My Lords, I think that that is another question entirely: it is not in the same country.
§ LORD MATHERSMy Lords, may I ask the noble Lord whether he realises how his Answer puts back the date of starting this project, for which I have been contending for twenty years? May we take it that the date now given is a firm date for seeing something happen?
§ LORD STRATHCLYDEMy Lords, I do not think that the date I have given puts anything back at all. The date I have given was announced by my right honourable friend the Minister of Transport in another place as long ago as February 2, 1955, and the Government still stand to that date.