HL Deb 26 July 1978 vol 395 cc860-3

3.6 p.m.

Lord FERRIER

My 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 urge the Lothian Region to expedite their plans for the completion of the Edinburgh City outer by-pass road in the light of the increasing traffic and of the Statement made by the Under-Secretary of State for Scotland in repy to the Member for Edinburgh West on 6th February last in the House of Commons (Official Report (Commons); cols. 1206–7).

The MINISTER of STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (Lord Kirkhill)

My Lords, the Scottish Development Department continues to maintain close liaison with the regional authority to facilitate progress on the by-pass and the associated trunk road programmes. It is for the Lothian Regional Council, as highway authority, to determine their own priorities. It does not seem likely that the Council's cash limit for 1978/79 and financial guidelines for the following three years issued by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will restrict the Council unduly.

Lord FERRIER

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for his reply, and recognising the heavy conjuction between this Question and the last one, including the replies from the noble Baroness opposite, would the noble Lord agree that, while accepting that the Lothian Region are proceeding with the Sighthill section of the by-pass, the fact remains that half a by-pass is not a by-pass at all, but is like half a tunnel through a hill? Furthermore, until a whole by-pass is operated, would he not agree that the actual effect on the internal traffic of a city must be a matter of conjecture?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, the Government and Lothian Regional Council have always considered the outer city by-pass to be the responsibility of the local highway authority, as its primary function is to serve as a local distributor road. The Lothian Regional Council discussion document, The Development of Transportation Policy Edinburgh Area, says of the road that, its primary function is as a distributor for Edinburgh traffic to switch to other radials as well as serving inter-suburban movements particularly between outer suburbs. That is the formal position and, at this time, the Government and the Lothian Regional Council work in very close co-operation.

Lord FERRIER

My Lords, with respect to the noble Lord, would it not be correct to say that the by-pass is not mainly a contribution to the distribution of Edinburgh traffic, judging by Mr. McElhone's reply in the Commons? Would he not agree this is really part of the trunk system of the country now that the oil traffic is streaming past?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, primarily it is the responsibility of the Lothian Regional Council. It is not at the moment the Secretary of State's responsibility, apart from the fact that its several links with major trunk roads relate it to the Secretary of State's trunk road responsibilities.

Lord DERWENT

My Lords, is the noble Lord saying that this by-pass is half devolved?

Lord KIRKHILL

No, my Lords, I am saying it is half beginning.

A noble Lord

Do the Government not think there is rather a long time—

Lord BLYTON

My Lords, does not the noble Lord think that, in the fight for devolution, the only road there is in Scotland is the road out? And does he not think it would be better to go over the Cheviot hills—the Scots will climb over them in a fortnight—and that the Question of the noble Lord does not matter?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, I never subscribe to Dr. Johnson's dictum.

The Earl of SELKIRK

My Lords, may I ask whether the noble Lord is aware that this road has been under consideration for some 40 years? Can he assure us that the Lothian Region has both authority and resources to complete this work now?

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, I can assure the noble Earl on both points.

Lord BALERNO

My Lords, do the Government not think that it is rather a long time since the Forth Road Bridge was completed? Plans at that time were drawn up for this particular ring road which would avoid heavy traffic going through the City of Edinburgh. Surely, it should be given a greater degree of priority than it is getting at the moment.

Lord KIRKHILL

My Lords, I agree with the sentiments which the noble Lord expresses; I also confirm that the matter is being given a great deal of priority at this time, both by the Lothian Regional Council and by Government.

The Earl of HALSBURY

My Lords, would the noble Lord agree that infrastructural investment of this kind is the most effective means of absorbing unemployment due to the increase it produces in the order books of the heavy engineering industry where structural unemployment is concentrated?

Lord KIRKHILL

Yes, my Lords.