§ 19. Sir David SteelTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will indicate a timetable for future road developments in the Borders region following his appointment of consultants.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe A68 Dalkeith bypass is being progressed as the most important immediate improvement to serve the Borders and it is hoped that this scheme will commence late next year. Consultants are also to be appointed to confirm that an environmentally acceptable dualling of the A7 in the longer term from Edinburgh to the Borders can be defined. In the short term, work will commence on the package of accident remedial measures on the A1, A7, A68 and A702 and on the programme of smaller improvement schemes on the A1 and A7 south of Hawick.