Road Development (Glasgow)

Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 4 Gorffennaf 1979.

Danfonwch hysbysiad imi am ddadleuon fel hyn

Photo of Hon. Thomas Galbraith Hon. Thomas Galbraith , Glasgow Hillhead 12:00, 4 Gorffennaf 1979

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he is involved in the development of roads in the city of Glasgow.

Photo of Malcolm Rifkind Malcolm Rifkind Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scottish Office)

My right hon. Friend makes each year an overall allocation of capital resources to Strathclyde regional council for the provision and improvement of public transport and roads within the region. Within that allocation the regional council decides which road schemes it wishes to proceed.

Photo of Hon. Thomas Galbraith Hon. Thomas Galbraith , Glasgow Hillhead

As a road, by its very nature, affects a wide area and is therefore of more than local interest, and when so much taxpayers' money is involved, should not the Secretary of State take a greater interest, and will my hon. Friend agree that some road proposals, such as that for a road to go through Glasgow Green

Photo of Hon. Thomas Galbraith Hon. Thomas Galbraith , Glasgow Hillhead

I do not know what the hon. Gentleman is talking about—the road proposed to go through Glasgow Green, the Crow Road expressway in my constituency, and, formerly, the Great Western Road project;—

Photo of Mr George Thomas Mr George Thomas , Gorllewin Caerdydd

Order. No one could have been quieter than I was. Will the hon. Gentleman come to a conclusion?

Photo of Hon. Thomas Galbraith Hon. Thomas Galbraith , Glasgow Hillhead

I am trying to do just that, Mr. Speaker, and if hon. Members opposite did not interrupt so much I might be able to get to the point, which is that the roads which I have mentioned—the proposed road across Glasgow Green, the Crow Road expressway, and formerly the Great Western Road scheme—involve issues of aesthetic and environmental interest and financial—

Photo of Mr George Thomas Mr George Thomas , Gorllewin Caerdydd

Order. The hon. Gentleman is not being fair to the rest of the House. It was not just that he was interrupted. It was a very long supplementary question.

Photo of Malcolm Rifkind Malcolm Rifkind Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Scottish Office)

I know that my hon. Friend is voicing a matter which is of interest and concern to some of his constituents. I think that he will be aware that the proposals for the Crow Road expressway in particular have been before the regional council and the local authority since 1965. They were subject to extensive public consultation on the part of the local authority and also involved a public local inquiry into a compulsory purchase order. I am sure that my hon. Friend will agree that on a matter which is essentially local it is right and proper that Strathclyde regional council, which is the relevant authority, should decide its own priorities on the basis of what it believes to be appropriate.