§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide start dates for proposed road improvement schemes at Cotterscleuch, at Teviothead and from Branxholme to Newmill on the A7 Edinburgh to Carlisle trunk road; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerThere are no improvements planned at these locations. The Borders regional council has considered the feasibility of improvements at Colterscleuch and elsewhere and its report is under consideration by my Department. But it is highly unlikely that any major new schemes on the A7 can be added to the five-year trunk road programme, which is already heavily committed.
§ Mr. David Steelasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will authorise studies of that section of the A7 Edinburgh to Carlisle trunk road within the Borders region with a view to proposing improvement schemes designed to eliminate hazards and ensure a minimum carriageway width of 7.3 metres throughout that length.
§ Mr. YoungerStudies have already been carried out for some sections of the road and these will form the basis of any future improvement schemes. No further studies are planned at present.