Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - A82 (Upgrading)
4. Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide an update on progress towards upgrading the A82. (S3O-3679)
The Deputy Presiding Officer: I call Stewart Stevenson.
I think the minister will have heard what I have just said.
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson):
The minister did hear. I am sorry.
Transport Scotland is currently taking forward some £16 million of improvement schemes from the A82 route action plan to improve safety and speed up journey times for local communities, tourists and businesses. That includes improvement work at Pulpit rock and a bypass for Crianlarich, which we aim to deliver within the current programme to 2012.
Other improvement schemes that are recommended in the route action plan are being considered for future investment as part of Transport Scotland’s strategic transport projects review, which will deliver its findings to ministers in the summer of 2008.
I apologise to you, Presiding Officer.
The Deputy Presiding Officer: Thank you.
Jamie McGrigor: Presiding Officer I, too, humbly apologise for my lateness.
The number of road accidents on the A82 since 2007 amounts to no less than 143 injury accidents, including eight fatalities. That is a dreadful record that makes it one of the most dangerous trunk roads in Scotland. In the light of that, does the minister believe that the Government is giving enough priority to upgrading the A82? What hope can he give to the long-suffering tourists and commuters who depend on that vital route, and what will he do to bring down the accident rate?
Stewart Stevenson: Jamie McGrigor is aware, as I am, of the vigorous campaign that is being waged to ensure that we get appropriate investment in the A82. I have met the campaigners and discussed many of the issues that are associated with the A82. I am no happier than the member about the accident record and the number of fatalities on the road. It is one of a series of difficult challenges that we have inherited as a Government. We are currently investing in the A82 and, as part of the strategic transport projects review, considering what further investments we wish to make.
Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): Has the decision by Parliament last year to invest £0.5 billion in an Edinburgh tram line had any effect on the amount of finance that is available for other transport infrastructure investment in Scotland?
Stewart Stevenson: Dr McKee makes a fair point. However, I make it absolutely clear that I regard that decision as being of the past, although it clearly influences room for investment today. I am sure that people will take account of it when they examine the Government’s performance and that of Parliament as a whole.
