Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 10 December 2025
10 Dec 2025 · S6 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Road Network (Connectivity and Economic Growth)
On the face of it, the member’s suggestion sounds eminently sensible. It is about getting into the small details, which can make a big difference. If we want our roads to work in order to move goods around, HGV drivers need good facilities, including food outlets and secure places to sleep. That is fundamental.
Whisky is another of Scotland’s main exports. There are 99 distilleries in the Highlands, and 80 per cent of Highland gross domestic product is reliant on whisky. That generates 1,500 HGV journeys per day; there are sections of the A96 on which a fifth of all traffic is due to whisky.
We export 40 bottles of whisky per second from Scotland. When we look at the challenges that we face with roads such as the A96, or indeed the A9, we see that when we have traffic jams there, we are literally creating the mother of all bottlenecks for our second-biggest export industry.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur)
LD
The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-20057, in the name of Sue Webber, on connecting Scotland. I invite members who wish to participate to pre...
Sue Webber (Lothian) (Con)
Con
Interruption. Sorry—I am phoning someone by mistake. Scotland’s road network is the backbone of our connectivity and economic growth. Communities across Sco...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
I hear what the member is saying, and I totally accept the need for urgency, but it is not about passing laws; it is about planning and implementation. What ...
Sue Webber
Con
No one objects to the plans for the A9. Everyone is desperate for that road to be dualled—yet here we are. Improved connectivity is not only about tarmac an...
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Sue Webber
Con
If Ms Hyslop does not mind, I have quite a bit to say. If I have time, I will bring her in. Motorists cannot be expected to make the shift to EVs without h...
The Cabinet Secretary for Transport (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
This Government has made significant investment to improve Scotland’s trunk road network and has a strong record of delivering road infrastructure projects. ...
Finlay Carson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
No. Other recently completed projects include the Haudagain improvement in Aberdeen, the A737 Dalry bypass and the first two sections of the A9 dualling pro...
Jamie Halcro Johnston (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Will the cabinet secretary give way?
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
I have only five minutes, and I have a lot of ground to cover, because we are doing so much. Since announcing in December 2023 our delivery plan to dual the...
Daniel Johnson (Edinburgh Southern) (Lab)
Lab
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 thin...
Douglas Ross (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
Will the member give way?
Daniel Johnson
Lab
I am happy to give way, but it will have to be brief.
Douglas Ross
Con
Daniel Johnson mentioned rest stops. There is a rest stop on the A9 that provides a useful food van, but Transport Scotland will not allow a sign to be put u...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you the time back, Mr Johnson.
Daniel Johnson
Lab
On the face of it, the member’s suggestion sounds eminently sensible. It is about getting into the small details, which can make a big difference. If we want...
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
Will the member give way?
Daniel Johnson
Lab
It will have to be very brief. Interruption. Actually, I do not really have time. I come on to EV—
Jamie Halcro Johnston
Con
Will the member give way?
Daniel Johnson
Lab
I am afraid that I cannot. I say politely to members of both parties that oppose the EV tax that, while the objections are understandable, we have taxation ...
Mark Ruskell (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Green)
Green
Speaking as a motorist, I welcome sensible investment in our roads, but building roads is not the only way to generate economic growth, and roads are not eve...
Finlay Carson
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Mark Ruskell
Green
Unfortunately, I do not think that I have time to take interventions. Of course, buses use the roads too, but the unprecedented growth in traffic and conges...
Finlay Carson
Con
Will the member take an intervention on that point?
Mark Ruskell
Green
Do I have time, Presiding Officer?
The Deputy Presiding Officer
LD
I can give you some time back.
Finlay Carson
Con
Briefly, the economic impact assessment for the A75 noted that full dualling would generate £5 billion-worth of benefits, including £700 million from reduced...
Mark Ruskell
Green
Every project needs to be considered on its own merits. If the member were to look at the A9, he would see that its cost benefit ratio did not stack up initi...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (LD)
LD
The Scottish Government’s 2015 infrastructure investment plan has been laid bare not just in the debate but numerous times in the chamber. The investment pla...