Hon. Thomas Galbraith: Does the right hon. Gentleman not accept that many people would be willing to let their houses if they could be sure of getting them back? It is because they are not sure of getting them back that they do not let those houses.
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: Will my right hon. Friend please contradict the rumours, now prevalent, that the Ministry of Defence is not to move to Glasgow? Will he confirm that this vital aspect of decentralisation and devolution is to be carried out as soon as possible, as I asked him to confirm in our recent debate on the Scotland Act—which I do not think was mentioned in his reply? I have also written to him and...
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he is involved in the development of roads in the city of Glasgow.
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: 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—
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: 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;—
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: Will you please shut up?
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: 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—
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: Surely that position with regard to Scotland in the present Parliament is exactly the position that existed with regard to England in the last? The Socialist Party could never have carried on in England if there had not been a united Kingdom and they had not had the support of a vast number of Socialists in Scotland.
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: It is true.
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: I do not think that I have ever heard a Member talk such unmitigated nonsense as we have just heard from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden (Mr. Dewar). His speech amounted to an argument for the disintegration not just of Britain but of Scotland, too, for the results of the referendum vote show that until Strathclyde was brought in there was a majority in Scotland against devolution....
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: I am quite willing to wait and see. There is no need to go back as far as Mr. Asquith. Constitutional change is not what Scotland needs. The problems of Glasgow, as the hon. Member for Glasgow, Garscadden will be well aware, are much the same as those of Liverpool and Newcastle, both of which are shipbuilding areas. The problems will be solved only by this Parliament. They will not be solved...
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: The right hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Stewart) has a perfect opportunity to make a speech if that is what he wants. He is a Privy Councillor and should rise and make his speech. I wish he would stop interrupting me from a sedentary position. It is utterly ridiculous that, like the right hon. Member for Western Isles, in a small country such as ours a man can get to the top of a tree,...
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: The hon. Gentleman represents me in Parliament. However, he does not represent me in anything else. His views are different from mine. He seems to have failed to grasp that the procedure of this House has changed even in the time that I have been here. There used to be the Scottish Grand Committee. There are the Standing Committees and the Scottish Grand Committee now. I am not sure that the...
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: The hon. Member complains about the 40 per cent. rule. In his own party's programme for Scotland a 60 per cent. majority is required before there can be a change in the constitution.
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: Why does it matter whether the decisions are taken in Scotland or here? The important question is whether they are the right decisions.
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans for the future development of the Western infirmary, Glasgow.
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: Why does the Under-Secretary of State keep on washing his hands like Pontius Pilate and hiding behind the Glasgow hospital board as if he had no responsibility for the proper development of hospital services in Scotland? Can he imagine a better set-up for a teaching hospital than existed with the Western infirmary next to the university? Surely any change from that is planning madness. Will...
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the latest estimate of the total annual cost of running an Assembly to cover the upkeep of the building, the salaries and pensions of extra civil servants and other staff required, and of the Assemblymen, together with any allowances proposed to be paid and the cost of the Executive.
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: Is not £13 million a substantial sum of money? Does the Minister realise that if it costs £13 million to set up the Assembly there will be £13 million a year less for other services, such as education, health or home helps for the needy? Will he, on behalf of the Government, make clear in the referendum campaign that a "Yes" vote will mean more cash for the bureaucracy and less for the...
Hon. Thomas Galbraith: It is a lot of money.
