Cairn Gorm Funicular Railway (Hansard, 5 December 1996)

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to consider Highlands and Islands Enterprise's request for grant-aided expenditure on the proposed Cairn Gorm funicular railway. [7096]

§ Mr. Kynoch
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has sought the consent of my right hon. Friend for the provision of financial assistance for the Cairn Gorm funicular railway. Consideration of this request will not be completed until after the planning issues have been resolved.

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received about the proposed funicular railway on Cairn Gorm; and how many of these oppose the proposal. [7094]

§ Mr. Kynoch
My right hon. Friend has received a total of 2,840 letters about the proposed funicular railway on Cairn Gorm. Of these, 2,672 oppose the development.

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects Scottish Natural Heritage to conclude a section 50 agreement under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1972 with the developers of the proposed funicular railway on Cairn Gorm. [7093]

§ Mr. Kynoch
I understand that Scottish Natural Heritage has now reached agreement with the Highland council on all issues of principle relating to the drafting of the section 50 agreement. It is likely, therefore, that all parties will be in a position to conclude the section 50 agreement in the near future.

§ Mr. Galbraith
To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources resolution concerning the proposed CairnGorm funicular railway made at its meeting in Montreal. [7095]

§ Mr. Kynoch
The resolution passed by the IUCN meeting in Montreal called on the UK Government to evaluate alternative development options to the proposed funicular railway in the Cairngorms. The resolution failed to recognise that a planning application has been submitted for the construction of a funicular railway, and that this has to be considered according to the statutory rules governing all planning applications. If a planning application for an alternative scheme is lodged, this will be considered in the usual way.