Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - A90 (Laurencekirk Junction)
6. Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve further the junction of the A90 with the A937 at Laurencekirk. (S3O-4681)
The Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change (Stewart Stevenson):
Transport Scotland's strategic transport projects review is examining the longer-term needs of Scotland's nationally strategic transport network, which includes consideration of the A90 as part of the transport corridor between Dundee and Aberdeen.
Alex Johnstone: Does the minister acknowledge the fact that when the temporary measures were put in place at the junction, it was understood locally that they would be temporary, and that there would be a quick move towards the development of a grade-separated junction at the site? What progress was made by the previous Government towards that aim? Will that aim feature among the present Government's priorities?
Stewart Stevenson: The member will be aware that the previous Liberal Minister for Transport made improvements in 2005, which have resulted in a reduction in the number of accidents at the junction. We inherited no planning for further work. In light of the remark that the Liberals' finance spokesman, Jeremy Purvis, made last week, that
"Efficiency savings in the infrastructure programme have been identified,"—[Official Report, 30 October 2008; c 11852.]
we would not have expected any further investment from the Liberals, had they remained in a position of influence on the matter.
Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): What has that got to do with the question, Presiding Officer?
The Presiding Officer: I am indeed left wondering what that had to do with the question.
Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD): This is a very serious issue. The minister wrote to me saying that only "2 slight injury accidents" have taken place on the A90 at Laurencekirk in the past three years, whereas figures released by Grampian Police under the law on freedom of information—which is more than I got from the Minister for Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change—show that there have been 35 collisions and 21 injuries at Laurencekirk. Does the minister agree that those are alarming figures? Will he reconsider his decision not to meet me, Jill Campbell and other local campaigners to see for himself just how dangerous the road around Laurencekirk is?
Stewart Stevenson: As the member is aware, I am a regular user of the A90 and I am familiar with the area—indeed, it seems quite clear that I am somewhat more familiar with it than he is. My answer related to the junction that he asked me about; the freedom of information request that he mentioned referred to a substantially greater area of the A90. As this is a matter of concern to us all, it is being treated very seriously.
Of course, the Liberals have trouble with numbers. Last week, Jeremy Purvis said that ministers in this Administration
"will be 40 per cent wealthier"—[Official Report, 30 October 2008; c 11851.]
than those in Ireland. Actually, the Irish make twice as much money as we do.
The Presiding Officer: That remark is off the subject, minister.
Stewart Stevenson: Numbers from Liberals on the subject of roads or on anything else are not to be trusted.
