§ Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what economic and social improvements he foresees by the de-trunking of roads in Argyll and Bute. [30448]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe de-trunking of the A816 Lochgilphead-Oban and the A828 Connel-Ballachulish are part of a wider review of the Scottish trunk road network. Benefits of this review will 723W be to ensure the high-quality access required by commerce and industry, tourism and agriculture in each of the new unitary authorities and to provide an efficient and effective trunk road network serving Scotland well into the next century.
Where responsibility for management and maintenance of routes is transferred to local roads authorities future priorities will be set in the context of local needs, which should help ensure that local economic and social benefits are maximised.