§ 2.8 p.m.
§ LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICKMy Lords, I beg leave 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 they will undertake to announce before Parliament rises for the Summer Recess their decision regarding the route they have selected for the line of the M.90 motorway between Arlary and Muirmont (in the area of the Glenfarg Pass, Perthshire), and thus bring to an end the damaging uncertainty that has existed for so long.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, the line of the M.90 between Arlary and Muirmont was one of a number of matters considered at a public inquiry, which lasted 28 days, and was held in the latter part of last year. My right honourable friend the Secretary of State received the report a fortnight ago, and he is considering it urgently. He is anxious to reach his decision as quickly as possible. Although the report is a bulky technical document which needs careful study, he hopes to make an announcement soon, but this may not be before the start of the Recess.
§ LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICKMy Lords, I am much obliged to my noble friend. Can he tell me whether there were many objections to part 1 of the report? Could he be a little more precise as to when the position is likely to be announced? Will it be next week, or next month or next year?
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIANMy Lords, I think I can calm my noble friend's fears by saying that it will not be next year. However, I should not like to go any further and say how soon, but I suspect that the possibility is that it will not be next week. In reply to his first supplementary question, I can tell him that there were quite a number of objections to part 1 of the report. A number of modifications were suggested, and indeed an extension of the time for consideration was requested and was granted. This is one of the reasons for the delay in issuing the report.