Perth-Aberdeen Dual Carriageway

HC Deb 23 May 1979 vol 967 cc1035-6

11. Mr. Peter Fraser

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the proposed new Perth to Aberdeen dual carriageway.

Mr. Rifkind

I have instructed my Department to report on the best means of implementing this commitment. Proposals at Stonehaven which involved new lengths of single carriageway have been withdrawn for redesigning.

Mr. Fraser

Will my hon. Friend give an undertaking that identified and accepted improvements to the roads in Angus, especially the proposed bypass for Forfar will not be prejudiced by the design planning work that will be necessary on the new dual carriageway? Will he reconsider the detrunking decision of the coast A92 road which the previous Administration took?

Mr. Rifkind

The road improvements now being carried out will be upgraded to dual carriageway standard. The Forfar bypass is not due to begin until 1982. It will be included in the new design at dual standard level. The public local inquiry recommended against double trunking in this area. We do not intend to change that. Four of the bridges on this road will be given help by the Department although the road is no longer a trunk road.

Mr. Robert Hughes

Will the Minister say what the cost to public funds would be of dualling this road and whence the money will come? As the Government are dedicated to making public expenditure cuts, who will suffer to pay for these roads?

Mr. Rifkind

The hon. Gentleman should be only too delighted at the Government's commitment to make this road a dual carriageway. The cost of the improvement to dual carriageway standard will be £27 million.

Mr. Sproat

Is my hon. Friend aware that, in spite of the carping comments of the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hughes), the Government's determination to go ahead with this vital development will be widely welcomed in Scotland? Will he give us an approximate idea of when construction will begin and how long it will take?

Mr. Rifkind

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for his comments. The need to redesign the road to dual carriageway standard means a delay of six months in starting the construction work. We hope that all construction work will have begun in 1983.