HC Deb 10 December 1973 vol 866 cc51-2W
Mr. McElhone

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the local authority projects for which approval has been withheld as a result of the recent cuts in public expenditure in Scotland.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

As part of the Government's counter-inflation measures I asked Scottish local authorities on 11th October not to let contracts for public works other than housing and roads in the remainder of 1973, so as to reduce the excessive pressure on the construction industry and moderate the recent very steep rises in contract prices. Individual projects were not specified. Some exemptions have been granted for special reasons. I intend to issue further advice to local authorities shortly, to enable them to restart their rephased programmes.