Meeting of the Parliament 10 December 2025
It gives me great pleasure to open for Labour in the debate, given that I have acquired transport as part of my economy, business and fair work brief. I think that that is a good thing, because transport properly belongs in the economy brief.
I always try to be collegiate in debates, and there are many things in the motion and all the amendments with which Labour can agree, but the most important is the idea that transport and the roads network are about connecting Scotland. Although there are things in the Conservative motion with which I disagree, the fundamental point about connectivity is clear.
That point was brought home to me when I visited Fort William last summer. Many interesting things were brought to my attention during my visit, but this was the most important. Around 50 per cent of all Scotland’s salmon comes through Fort William. It then needs to be transported along the A82, on which, for large stretches, heavy goods vehicles have to have their wheels literally on the white line, and there is no space for two HGVs to pass each other along the way. Salmon is Scotland’s third biggest export, and it is going down a road that cannot have two HGVs passing each other—that is important. We need to understand that the issue of roads is not about choice or consumer decision—it is about how our economy connects up.
Another important facet of the motion—which I agree with, but which Labour cannot support; I will come to that later—is that it is about the detail. I am pleased that the motion refers to “rest stops”, because that highlights some of what we need to get right. Yes, we need to build roads, but we also need to ensure that our roads are wide enough and have rest stops so that HGV drivers have secure places in which to park up. Ultimately, if we want goods to move from point A to point B around the country, we need those things.