Mr. W. M. WATSONasked the Minister of Transport if his attention has been drawn to the decision of the conference of local authorities interested in promoting the Forth Road Bridge scheme not to proceed further with the proposal: and, considering the great and growing inconvenience to the public due to the lack of proper facilities for crossing the Forth, will he state what steps he proposes to take to remedy this grievance?
2510W
§ Colonel ASHLEYI understand that the local authorities are not prepared to accept my offer of a grant from the Road Fund of 75 per cent. of the cost of the preliminary investigations necessary for the proper consideration of the proposal for the construction of a road bridge across the Forth. As I am not in a position to offer better terms I can only hope that the local authorities will reconsider their attitude, and thus enable the project to be examined.