HL Deb 08 April 1987 vol 486 cc1024-5

2.50 p.m.

Viscount Mersey

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will approve applications for additional skiing facilities in Scotland, in particular on Aonach Mhor, Fort William, and at Lurcher's Crag, Cairngorms.

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Scotland is unable to reach a decision on Aonach Mhor until the uncertainties surrounding the project have been clarified. The Government are not aware of any current application relating to Lurcher's Crag.

Viscount Mersey

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that Scotland is a country of kilts and whisky rather than salopettes and glühwein? I am glad that there are no current plans for Lurcher's Crag in particular. I should like to ask my noble friend whether he is aware that should there be skiing development in that area, the most magnificent valley walk in the British Isles would be ruined; I am referring to the walk called the Lairig Ghru. Also there would be grave danger of ruining an ancient Caledonian pine forest called Rothiemurchus.

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, in reply to the second part of my noble friend's supplementary question, no doubt he is aware that Lurcher's Crag has already been designated as an SSSI by the NCC. That fact will be taken into account by the Highland Regional Council if an application should be submitted. As regards the first part of my noble friend's supplementary question, although I agree with him that Scotland is indeed a country of kilt and whisky, I see no reason why it should not also come to be, if it is not already, very much a country of glühwein.

Baroness Nicol

My Lords, does the Minister consider that Aonach Mhor could provide quite a good case for development as Fort William needs more economic development? However, so far as Lurcher's Crag is concerned I support the words of the noble Viscount.

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Baroness for her comments. I agree with her that Aonach Mhor has a great deal of potential. However, as she may be aware, there are uncertainties and potential difficulties attached to the proposed development.

Baroness Carnegy of Lour

My Lords, does my noble friend agree that the people of Scotland would very much resent the suggestion that they are not a country of glühwein? They are extremely keen skiers and at most skiing resorts glühwein is available and is much enjoyed. Does he agree that what is required is a degree of balance and not panic about the effect on the ecology and on Rothiemurchus, which is a large tract of land, much of which is not forest? It is important that there should be balance there and at all the skiing resorts which want to expand. It is the job of the Government and of the local authorities to see that that balance is maintained.

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, I agree entirely with my noble friend that there is never any cause for panic in these matters and that the problem should be considered after taking into account all the factors which need to be balanced.

Viscount Mersey

My Lords, is not the difficulty with the Aonach Mhor scheme that it is very much in the Western Highlands and subject to the warm we weather of the Gulf Stream? Is it not a fact that the problem there could well be just lack of snow?

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, I do not think I can comment on that but, as many of your Lordships may be aware, in the Scottish Highlands there is certainly no lack of rain. When the weather is cold we would perhaps be safe in saying that there is also no lack of sleet and snow.

Lord Wigoder

My Lords, does the noble Earl recognise that in deciding where to station skiing facilities the need for balance is extremely important? Also does he appreciate that no facilities are likely to be sucessful in a resort called Lurcher's Crag?

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, there is undeniably a great deal in what the noble Lord says. On the question of balance, I always recommend my friends if they are in doubt to use the snow plough position when going downhill.

Baroness Strange

My Lords, since "mhor" means "big" and "beag" means "little", why is it that Aonach Beag is in fact 49 feet higher than Aonach Mhor? May I ask what plans my noble firend has for rectifying this matter?

The Earl of Dundee

My Lords, I am very interested to hear what my noble friend has to say about "beag" and "mhor". I am afraid I am not in a position to comment, but if I knew more about the matter and if perchance she should be wrong, I suppose I would have to say to her that I could not beg to differ more.