§ Mr. MILLARasked the Minister of Transport whether he has now had an opportunity of consulting the local authorities interested in the Forth and Tay road-bridge schemes; what stage has been reached in the negotiations with the local authorities concerned; and whether, in order to facilitate further negotiations, he can state what proportion of the cost of these schemes would be borne by the State and what contributions would be expected from local authorities of the schemes are to proceed?
§ Mr. HERBERT MORRISONThe local authorities concerned in the suggested road-bridge over the Forth have been supplied with copies of the Consulting Engineer's Report, and I am in correspondence with them. With regard to the suggested road-bridge over the Tay, discussion on technical points is proceeding with the Harbour Trust. Until the necessary investigations and discussions regarding the practicability of both these projects have reached a more advanced stage, it would be premature for me to attempt to formulate a scheme for the apportionment of the cost.