§ 34. Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the measures to improve the infrastructure which he has proposed to enable Scotland to maximise the benefits of the development of North Sea oil.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellFollowing is the information
RoadsThe Government have undertaken, as quickly as technical resources permit, to improve the A9 to Invergordon, including the virtual reconstruction of most of the road between Perth and Inverness with a new road across the Black Isle. Over £40 million will be spent on this project. On the route to Aberdeen and the North-East—the area at present most affected by the oil developments—an acceleration of expenditure of £4 million has been announced. A new motorway—the M80—is planned between Glasgow and Denny to replace the south-western part of the Glasgow-Stirling trunk road, thus providing a link to motorway standard for the whole length between Glasgow and Stirling and improving access to the North. The cost will be over £15 million, apart from the section inside Glasgow itself which will cost an additional £7 million.HousingA programme of 700 houses—representing an investment of over £4 million—is to be undertaken by the Scottish Special Housing Association specifically for the needs of the oil industry in the North-East and the Moray 129W Firth. More houses will be made available as future needs become clear.PortsWork costing some £1.3 million has been authorised for the improvement of Aberdeen Harbour for oil industry purposes and a Government loan of up to 100 per cent. has been promised. A Bill is at present going through Parliament to allow for the commercial development of Peterhead Harbour of Refuge, with the needs of the oil industry particularly in mind. The initial cost to the Government would be between £2 million and £3 million if the development is undertaken by the Secretary of State.