HC Deb 10 July 1974 vol 876 cc1339-40
7. Mr. Fairgrieve

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects work to start on making the road to Aberdeen and the north dual carriageway.

Mr. Millan

Substantial lengths of dual carriageway already exist or are under construction between Perth and Dundee and between Stonehaven and Aberdeen. My right hon. Friend has also recently agreed in principle that dual carriageways north of Aberdeen should be extended as far as Balmedie. However, forward estimates of traffic do not at present justify such provision over the entire length.

Mr. Fairgrieve

I thank the Minister for that partial reply, but does he realise that Aberdeen, which is the oil capital of Europe and is fast becoming the production centre of what will be Britain's biggest single industry, in financial terms, is still joined to the rest of the United Kingdom by what is more or less a cart track?

Mr. Millan

I do not think that I would accept that, but considerable improvements are going on.

Mr. Douglas Henderson

Will the Minister look particularly at the case of the road north of Balmedie, to Ellon and Peterhead, where the construction traffic and traffic to the power stations and the gas terminal are putting an enormous strain on local road resources? Will he ask the Secretary of State to have a special look at this road and drive on it when he visits the area on Friday?

Mr. Millan

I have already travelled on that road recently and I appreciate that it is by no means adequate. We are providing dual carriageways as far as Balmedie and there are other improvements north of that with, perhaps, a bypass of Ellon. There will be other improvements, and I agree that they are needed.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Will the Minister look specifically at the question of the Montrose relief road—a town which has experienced tremendous and very fast oil development and where a great deal of congestion is building up? I hope that it has a high degree of urgency in his programme.

Mr. Millan

I shall look at these specific matters. If any hon. Member has a particular question I hope that he will put it down so that I can deal with it.