§ Mr. McQuarrie asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what requests he has received for meetings with representatives of the Grampian regional council and the 182W Banff and Buchan district council concerning his approval of the gas-gathering pipeline system at St. Fergus in the Aberdeenshire, East constituency; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Alexander Fletcher:My right hon. Friend has had no requests from either Grampian regional council or Banff and Buchan district council to meet it to discuss the Government's decision announced in September on the gas-gathering line. Despite many months of negotiation, the necessary levels of private sector investment for the integrated pipeline project were not forthcoming. Nevertheless, I remain confident that the bulk of the gas will be landed: this will be achieved by companies developing their own plans, either individually or in concert, and the Government will give every encouragement to such developments.