§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has made any assessment of the protective benefits of tree planting alongside principal roads and motorways in keeping those routes open during periods of heavy snow; and to what extent tree planting has taken place along the roads for which he is responsible.
§ Mr. RifkindSeveral special planting schemes have been undertaken along certain trunk roads that are likely to be subject to particularly adverse winter weather conditions, for instance, the A68 at Soutra Hill and the A9 at Slochd and south of Drumochter; plans are being prepared for a further scheme on the A9 at the Ord of Caithness. No detailed post-planting studies have been carried out in Scotland but it is considered that these schemes have provided a useful degree of protection for the roads concerned.
Tree planting is now considered in association with every trunk road scheme but, as there can also be disadvantages—for example encouragement of ice formation, —each case must be considered on merits.