§ Mr. John MacLeodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what improvements have been made to the section of the main north road A.9 running through Ross and Cromarty in the last 15 years.
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§ Mr. MaclayThe following improvements have been made to trunk road A.9 in Ross and Cromarty:
Provision of Bailey Bridge, Conon Bridge,
Improvements of level crossing, Craig Road, Dingwall.
Minor improvements have been carried out as required under the trunk road maintenance and minor improvements programmes.
§ Mr. John MacLeodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the three main roads radiating from east of the county of Ross and Cromarty to the west, that is, from Garve to Ullapool, Garve to Gairloch, and Achna-sheen to Kyle of Lochalsh, are still almost wholly single track with passing places; and if he will improve all trunk and class I roads in Ross and Cromarty to a width of 18 feet as a matter of urgency.
§ Mr. MaclayI realise that some roads, trunk as well as classified, in the western part of the county have single-lane carriageways, with passing places. It is my general intention to provide the remaining single-lane trunk roads with 18 feet carriageways as funds allow—for example one scheme has been completed and another is starting on the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh road west of Cluanie—but the standard to be adopted for the reconstruction of classified roads, much of which is planned under the crofter counties programme, will depend on the present and foreseeable volume of traffic.
§ Mr. John MacLeodasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what share of major road improvement grants was received during the latter part of the post-war period by the county of Ross and Cromarty compared with the amounts allocated to the six other Crofter Counties.
§ Mr. MaclayThe amount of exchequer funds authorised in the last three financial years for new construction and major improvements schemes on trunk and classified roads in the seven Crofter 37W Counties was as set out in the table below:
EXCHEQUER FUNDS AUTHORISED FOR NEW CONSTRUCTION AND MAJOR IMPROVEMENT OF ROADS County Council Trunk Roads Classified Roads £ £ 1959–60 Argyll … 46,399 203,228 Caithness … 113,155 30,005 Inverness … 10,145 269,830 Orkney … — 7,205 Ross and Cromarty … 125,869 168,608 Sutherland … 60,235 226,941 Zetland … — 7,600 1960–61 Argyll … 126,424 134,663 Caithness … 90,839 22,434 Inverness … 79,437 350,071 Orkney … — 9,270 Ross and Cromarty … 16,186 596,576 Sutherland … 40,634 71,789 Zetland … — 6,445 1961–62 Argyll … 253,836 291,166 Caithness … 3,634 * 14,250 Inverness … 15,271 417,884 Orkney … — 11,947 Ross and Cromarty … 354,989 193,047 Sutherland … 526 432,246 Zetland … — 11,160 * Note.—Commitment for part of a scheme.