Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 13 November 2024
13 Nov 2024 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Rural Roads
I thank Douglas Lumsden for lodging his motion and for the opportunity to highlight the chronic neglect of our rural roads infrastructure. Like all members, I find that my inbox is regularly full of angry motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who are frustrated at the plague of potholes on our roads and crumbling pavements.
The cause is clear: there has been a double whammy of cuts to our councils. First, there has been a cumulative cut of more than £6 billion from the Scottish Government to local government since 2013-14. The proportion of the Scottish Government budget going to local government has fallen from 34 per cent in 2013-14 to 28 per cent in 2022-23. The Scottish Government has made proportionately deeper reductions in local budgets than in any central Government budget.
Secondly, because so many areas of local budgets are ring fenced by central Government, when it comes to making cuts, investment infrastructure often takes a bigger hit because it is not ring fenced.
We can see the consequences. Data that was obtained by Scottish Labour reveals that the roads repair backlog bill across Scotland is an eye-watering £2.6 billion—
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Annabelle Ewing)
SNP
The final item of business is a members’ business debate on motion S6M-15207, in the name of Douglas Lumsden, on rural roads infrastructure. The debate will ...
Douglas Lumsden (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I thank members for supporting my motion, which has allowed the debate to take place. Across Scotland, people in rural communities are dependent on their ca...
Christine Grahame (Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale) (SNP)
SNP
I thank the member for bringing the debate to the chamber, as I have four major north-to-south roads in my rural constituency of Midlothian South, Tweeddale ...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
I congratulate Douglas Lumsden on bringing the debate to the chamber, particularly because, on the day that the Scottish Conservatives have highlighted the a...
Christine Grahame
SNP
Will the member give way?
Liam Kerr
Con
Do I have time, Deputy Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
If the intervention is brief, yes.
Christine Grahame
SNP
It will be. Does the member share my view that we should look at some of the vehicle excise duty going towards the upkeep of roads? Given that lorries and c...
Liam Kerr
Con
I listened to Christine Grahame’s comments earlier, and it is certainly worth reflecting on that point. We would have to look at the consequences of her prop...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Kerr, I have been generous.
Liam Kerr
Con
—instead of kicking the issue into the long grass. That is why I have said that I will join the Gray & Adams driver in the cab. Perhaps, when closing the...
Colin Smyth (South Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I thank Douglas Lumsden for lodging his motion and for the opportunity to highlight the chronic neglect of our rural roads infrastructure. Like all members, ...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
Will Colin Smyth give way?
Colin Smyth
Lab
I will give way on that point.
Finlay Carson
Con
I very much appreciate the member giving way, and I echo his concerns about council funding. However, does he recognise that, under the previous Labour-SNP D...
Colin Smyth
Lab
That budget of £30 million extra was supported by every group on the council. However, with regard to Dumfries and Galloway Council, we have had Conservative...
Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)
Con
I congratulate my colleague Douglas Lumsden on bringing this debate on the importance of rural roads infrastructure to the chamber. It feels a bit like déjà...
Emma Harper (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Like all the other colleagues, I congratulate Douglas Lumsden on securing the debate. As Mr Lumsden’s motion states, “driving is an essential part of daily ...
Finlay Carson
Con
I put on record my support for the A77 and A75 campaigns, but surely, given the number of years that we have been waiting for improvements, you must share th...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Always speak through the chair.
Emma Harper
SNP
I thank Finlay Carson for that intervention. I am on my feet here the night—does that not demonstrate that I am concerned about what my constituents in my wh...
Tim Eagle (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I congratulate Douglas Lumsden on securing the debate on what is a very important issue, and I echo his comments, and those of Liam Kerr, on the A96. I am su...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
I, too, congratulate Douglas Lumsden on securing the debate and on his excellent opening speech, in which he looked at both trunk roads and smaller rural roa...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I thank my colleague Douglas Lumsden for bringing this important debate to the chamber. I will take a bit of a risk. I have a four-minute speech prepared, bu...
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
I thank Douglas Lumsden for securing the debate. I will focus my remarks on the A90, as set out in his motion, although I acknowledge that the debate has pro...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I will move on, if you do not mind, Presiding Officer. That is clearly reflected in recommendations 30, 31 and 32 on our strategic infrastructure priorities...
Douglas Lumsden
Con
The cabinet secretary mentioned reports coming in. One of the things that we are waiting for is the A96 corridor review. Will that corridor review be publish...
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
Yes, it will. This year, we have committed £14 million to supporting local road safety, with more than £2 million being invested in local authorities in the...