Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament (Hybrid) 17 November 2021
17 Nov 2021 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Road Infrastructure
The situation is very clear. The commitment remains to address those issues, and the dualling aspect is subject to the review.
We remain committed to making much-needed improvements on the A96. Development work has already been undertaken that will not go to waste. We also remain committed to improving the A82 between Tarbet and Inverarnan, and we are progressing a range of infrastructure projects that are related to the city and growth deals.
Our approach to the on-going improvements that I have mentioned aligns with the approach to assessing the need for infrastructure improvements in the future, as set out in the national transport strategy. We are clear that we will not build infrastructure to cater for unconstrained increases in traffic volumes. That was set out in the NTS and taken forward in the strategic transport projects review, which is on-going, and it will be published for consultation this winter.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
I remind members of the Covid-related measures that are in place. Face coverings should be worn when moving around the chamber and across the Holyrood campus...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Tom Arthur is a likeable chap. As a back bencher, he was affable and straight talking. However, during questions on the draft national planning framework las...
The Minister for Transport (Graeme Dey)
SNP
Carry on.
Graham Simpson
Con
“Carry on”, he says.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Could we have less chat between one member who is seated and one who is standing? If no intervention is taken, there is no intervention.
Graham Simpson
Con
The minister does not wish to intervene, and the reason is that, although the SNP might agree with us that those roads and others need to be upgraded, they h...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
Speaking as a rural motorist, I find that the real cost to me is the cost of fixing my suspension or something else in my car after I have run over loads of ...
Graham Simpson
Con
Investing in roads is what this is all about, and if we invested more in roads, Mr Ruskell would not have his car broken by potholes. The SNP might have bee...
The Minister for Transport (Graeme Dey)
SNP
Graham Simpson’s speech was amusing and entertaining, but let us deal in facts. Just last week, Glasgow hosted the 26th United Nations climate change confere...
Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
At the Finance and Public Administration Committee’s meeting on 31 August, when I asked the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy about the Governmen...
Graeme Dey
SNP
I will come to those projects later in my contribution. The Scottish Government is fully committed to meeting our ambitious climate targets, but that does n...
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con)
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
Graeme Dey
SNP
No—I need to make progress. The Scottish Government is also committed to delivering improvements for the north and the east of Scotland, along the A96 corri...
Graeme Dey
SNP
Alongside that, we will carry out a transparent evidence-based review of the A96 corridor, which will report by the end of 2022. That is sensible good govern...
Liam Kerr
Con
The minister’s party promised to dual the A96. Will he?
Graeme Dey
SNP
The situation is very clear. The commitment remains to address those issues, and the dualling aspect is subject to the review. We remain committed to making...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
Graeme Dey
SNP
I want to make progress. STPR2 will include recommendations for future investment in the Scottish road network over the next 20 years. Although the commitme...
Finlay Carson
Con
Will the minister take an intervention?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The minister is in his final minute.
Graeme Dey
SNP
May I take that intervention, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
If it is very brief and you wind up in your allotted time.
Finlay Carson
Con
Does the minister agree that the Scottish Government needs to put aside its petty and divisive position and work with the UK Government, particularly if the ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
That was not a brief intervention. I think that the minister has the gist. The minister should be brief.
Graeme Dey
SNP
The UK Government needs to show some respect for the devolution settlement. We will, of course, also continue to progress our maintenance programme to ensur...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
Scottish Labour believes that key routes in Scotland must be upgraded to improve road safety, reduce journey times and support local and regional economies. ...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
I want to make three points on the importance of core connectivity between communities and the rest of Scotland; the safety of our roads and the need to main...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
I recognise the safety issues on the A9. Why, then, did Liberal Democrat MPs oppose the introduction of safety cameras on the A9?
Beatrice Wishart
LD
Repairs and other improvements fall in line with the recommendations of the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland, which suggested that greater emphasis be ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
We move to the open debate. I advise members that there is no time in hand. If you take an intervention, it must be absorbed within your allotted time. 15:46