§ 51. Mr. Malcolm MacMillanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that the long delays with the proposed Inverness County Council's pier works at Castlebay are setting back provision of a modern car ferry to serve Barra and South Uist; if he will give an assurance that there will be no avoidable delay by his Department in considering the plans sent to him by the county council; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossInverness County Council has applied for grant aid on works, which it now estimates will cost £98,000, to improve fendering and landing facilities at Castlebay Pier and to construct an extension making the pier suitable for use by a side-loading vehicle ferry. After discussions between my Department and the County Council, the technical aspects of the plans, revised in certain respects, are now agreed, and I shall shortly write to the Council giving approval in principle to its proposals and offering grant of 75 per cent. of the estimated cost.