§ Mr. DarlingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what public consultation he proposes to hold on whether a second road bridge should be built across the Firth of Forth at Queensferry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe proposal for a new bridge across the Firth of Forth is part of a package of proposals which includes improvements to road, bus and rail services in the cross-Forth and west of Edinburgh areas.
Other proposals were identified in the Government's paper "Setting Forth" which was the subject of wide-ranging public consultation in 1992. A scheme to build a new bridge would be subject to the usual statutory procedures, which would include formal consultation before a possible public inquiry.