§ Mr. WilsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to reply to the letter sent in July from the hon. Member for Cunninghame, North's constituent, Dr. Malcolm Kerr, regarding Rhu Narrows.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 13 November 1989]: The proposal by the Property Services Agency, on behalf of the Ministry of Defence, to widen Rhu Narrows adjacent to the Clyde submarine base at Faslane was advertised in the local press in July and persons who wished to express a view on the proposal were invited to write to my Department. The letter to which the hon. Member refers was one of a number of standard format letters received objecting to the proposal. It is not normal practice to reply individually to those who have made representations in this manner. Copies of the letter of 12 October announcing my right right hon. and learned Friend's decision to allow this development to proceed were sent to the major parties involved in the proposal and an announcement was made in the press.
Dr. Kerr raised this matter with my Department on 2 November and a reply was issued on 8 November advising him of my right hon. and learned Friend's decision.