§ Mr. Home RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his plans for financing the upgrading of the A1 road to dual carriageway standard; and if he will make it his policy that no section of that trunk road will be subject to toll charges.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 12 November 1992]On 7 July this year, my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, reaffirmed the Government's conclusion that it would be desirable to dual the whole of the A1 between Edinburgh and Newcastle. Very substantial progress is being made with improvements to the route and our present financial plans account for the dualling of half the length of the A1.
While the Government are encouraging the private sector to consider viable options for new toll roads, no such proposals have been received for the A1.