Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 05 June 2024
05 Jun 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Road Infrastructure
More effective and less costly measures to improve road safety include average-speed cameras, improved signage, education and policing to reduce speeding and dangerous overtaking.
It would be far better to use funds to dual the Highland main line, which is a key Highland infrastructure route that has not seen any expansion in its capacity since the 19th century. Investing in railways means expanding safe low-carbon travel, taking freight and commuters off roads and significantly reducing transport emissions. Compared with the eye-watering overspends that are associated with road projects, recent rail projects have been substantially cheaper per mile and their popularity once operational has significantly exceeded estimates. Three times as many passengers use the Borders railway than was estimated when the business case was made.
Just last week, we welcomed the reopening of the Levenmouth line at a cost of just over £19 million per mile. At current estimates, dualling the A9 will cost more than £46 million per mile. Is that the best use of stretched Government funds in the midst of a climate crisis?
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-13480, in the name of Graham Simpson, on improving Scotland’s roads. I invite members who wish to partici...
Graham Simpson (Central Scotland) (Con)
Con
Presiding Officer, I do not know what you think, but I think that one of the basic infrastructure requirements of any country is to make it easy to get aroun...
Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
The member quite rightly mentioned Edinburgh and our problem with potholes, but is he aware that, in the recent budget decisions, the SNP proposal to cut the...
Graham Simpson
Con
Common sense from Edinburgh for a change. When it comes to moving goods and people, it is our trunk road network that does the heavy lifting, and it is foun...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
As the member said, the SNP has broken a 17-year-old promise to dual the A96 from Inverness to Aberdeen. A delaying-tactic report is now a year and a half la...
Graham Simpson
Con
Yes. There are tragic consequences of failing to invest. Between 2020 and 2023, there were 144 deaths on Scotland’s major trunk roads that go outside the ce...
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
The Scottish Government recognises fully the important role that a safe and efficient road network performs. The network is vital because it connects our cit...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
Will the transport secretary give way?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Very briefly.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Be brief, please.
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Does the transport secretary agree that it is disgraceful that it took from 1948, when the AWPR first went down on paper at the planning stage, until there w...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I ask that members listen to the person who has the floor, please.
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I thank the member for reminding us of that very important point. More recent projects have included the A9 dualling from Luncarty to the Pass of Birnam and ...
Jackson Carlaw (Eastwood) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
No, I will not. This is a very brief debate, at the choice of the Tories. The delivery plan sets out a realistic and achievable timetable for completion, ba...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
SNP
Will the cabinet secretary take an intervention?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I am sorry, but I have only two minutes left. I apologise to Fergus Ewing. Work has also commenced to determine the most suitable procurement option for del...
Alex Rowley (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
In January, the Automobile Association released its latest pothole index, which showed that, across the UK, car damage caused by potholes was the worst that ...
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Green)
Green
As a nation, we face an urgent climate crisis that demands bold action. The transport sector is Scotland’s most significant contributor to climate change and...
Fergus Ewing (Inverness and Nairn) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Ariane Burgess
Green
I will not be taking interventions, because I am short on time. Furthermore, the argument for road upgrades, which is based on safety concerns, is more comp...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
What about the people who have died?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
Mr Ewing.
Ariane Burgess
Green
More effective and less costly measures to improve road safety include average-speed cameras, improved signage, education and policing to reduce speeding and...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
You need to conclude.
Ariane Burgess
Green
In conclusion, although I support the fair funding of Scottish local authorities to maintain our existing road networks, I cannot support the prioritisation ...
Beatrice Wishart (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
A report in 2022 highlighted that the cost of fixing potholes across all of Scotland’s roads was £1.7 billion, and that figure has only risen since then. Ind...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
We move to the open debate. 15:48
Edward Mountain (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I thank Graham Simpson for securing the debate. I was disappointed when reading the SNP amendment, which says that the Government is perfect and has everythi...
Fergus Ewing
SNP
Does Mr Mountain agree that it is absolutely essential that the Scottish Government makes a statement that the section of the A9 between Smithton and Auldear...