§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if his plans for the extension of the A1 dual carriageway from Tranent to Haddington will incorporate a new Haddington bypass; and if he will make a further statement on the time scale for this work.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe provision of a bypass of Haddington has been included as part of the feasibility study being conducted by consultants. The report which has been submitted will have to be considered very carefully and no decisions can yet be taken on whether or not a bypass should be incorporated in the first phase of the proposed extension of the A1 dual carriageway between Tranent and Haddington. Once a preferred scheme has been identified, decisions on the timing of the work will be dependent on satisfactory completion of the public consultation and statutory procedures. The views of those directly affected by the detailed proposals will be a major factor in how quickly the scheme can be taken forward. However, the Government are keen to see early progress on this route and, subject to the conclusions of the consultants' report, I expect to be able to publish draft orders for the scheme in the first half of next year.