Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 14 January 2026
14 Jan 2026 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
A9 Dualling (Programme for 2035 Completion)
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement. The SNP first committed to dualling the A9 at least as early as 2007—20 years ago. Despite promises to complete the work by last year, however, we are barely a third of the way through. The announcements yesterday and today merely commit to the completion being a decade late.
While today’s announcement refers to using capital budgets rather than MIM or other financial models, we know from the Fraser of Allander Institute that capital budgets were cut by £850 million in the budget in the medium-term financial statement. That is a 10 per cent cut, despite exhausting the Scottish reserve and despite receiving more through the block grant.
Can the cabinet secretary confirm, therefore, what impact yesterday’s cut will have on the A9 dualling and other transport projects? Can she outline what contingency measures will be put in place so that we can have confidence that the dualling of the A9 will be complete by 2035?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a statement by Fiona Hyslop on the A9 dualling programme for 2035 completion. The cabinet secretary will take questions at the e...
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
The A9 is a vital element of our national infrastructure that connects the communities of the Highlands and Islands with central Scotland and supports their ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
The cabinet secretary will now take questions on the issues raised in her statement. I intend to allow around 20 minutes, after which we will need to move on...
Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con)
Con
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement. The dualling of the A9 was meant to be completed last year, but thanks to Scottish National...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I think that Sue Webber has selective memory when it comes to the financial constraints on capital projects that her party put on the Parliament and the Gove...
Sue Webber
Con
Oh my goodness!
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
If she did, she would see the groundwork that is happening from Tomatin to Moy. How can the project be stalling when those works are happening at the north a...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can confirm that there is a lot of interest in asking questions, and we will get through all those questions only if members ask their questions and then l...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
I thank the cabinet secretary for advance sight of her statement. The SNP first committed to dualling the A9 at least as early as 2007—20 years ago. Despite ...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I refer the member to table 9.01 on page 28 of the spending review. The figures for trunk road network safety adaptation, maintenance and improvement are con...
Emma Roddick (Highlands and Islands) (SNP)
SNP
I am pleased to hear that we are still on track and, in particular, that the Slochd section will be brought forward. The grade-separated junctions at Aviemor...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
There is an opportunity to bring forward the Dalraddy to Slochd route. We know that there have been safety concerns about a number of junctions on the A9. Wo...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
As Sue Webber said, the dualling of the A9 was supposed to have been completed last year. We are already 10 years behind where we should be, and too many liv...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I am sure that the member will have been in the chamber in 2023 when the then cabinet secretary set out the 2023 delivery plan. I reassure him that all the m...
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP)
SNP
Can the cabinet secretary advise what impact high levels of post-Covid inflation, coupled with years and years of cuts to Scotland’s capital allocation by th...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
The previous Conservative UK Government did not inflation-proof its capital budget. At the time, we forecast that that would have resulted in a nearly 10 per...
Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab)
Lab
The timeline suggests that about 40 to 50 miles of the A9 could be under construction at the same time, yet the statement makes no mention of contingency for...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I am being as open as I can be. I have come to the chamber whenever there is anything to announce. Having a dedicated committee is a matter not for me, but ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We have about eight minutes left and 10 members who wish to ask questions, so we will need slightly briefer questions and responses.
Rona Mackay (Strathkelvin and Bearsden) (SNP)
SNP
The dualling of the A9 is a fundamental project to connect Scotland and to ensure that we have the physical infrastructure to meet the needs of the country. ...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I have limited information before me today, but I will be happy to point Rona Mackay to a number of projects. I am pleased that the comprehensive spending re...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
Anyone who has attempted to turn north on to the A9 at Dunkeld will recognise the absolute road safety nightmare that is faced by communities day in, day out...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I recognise those issues, which is why, in my statement, I addressed some of the issues around the A923-A9 junction. There have been local representations ab...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
The minister does not like it, but she needs to be reminded that we are talking about a promise that was supposed to be delivered last year. We are years beh...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
In terms of the risk factors, some disruptions are outwith the control of contractors. For example, severe weather over lengths of time can cause issues. We...
Clare Adamson (Motherwell and Wishaw) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the cabinet secretary for her statement. I am really interested in the track record of delivering road infrastructure improvements, and I welcome the...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I make the point that the Highlands and the central belt both benefit from the dualling of the A9. We have already carried out many additional projects. Giv...
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I agree with the cabinet secretary that there should be a separate transport committee in the Parliament to overlook these projects. The final section of th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Speak through the chair.
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Regarding the northern section, Tomatin to Moy is a northern section that is being worked on now. It will be done by the spring of 2028, and the Dalraddy to ...