§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in theOfficial Report representations which have been made or are about to be made to the European Commission about the future funding of trunk roads in Scotland. [41681]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 6 November 1995]: My right hon. Friend has made no such representations to date.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those trunk roads and motorway routes in Scotland which have not been submitted by Her Majesty's Government to the EU Commission as priority funding routes during 1995 to 1999. [41682]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 6 November 1995]: The maps of the proposed trans-European transport networks, which are the routes of strategic importance for traffic moving within and through the European Union states, include several road and rail routes in Scotland. Inclusion of the routes on these maps makes them eligible for support from the EU's TENs funds, at a rate of 10 per cent. of capital costs or 50 per cent. of feasibility studies.
The timing of any applications for funding which may be made in respect of trunk roads or motorways in Scotland would depend on the place of those schemes within the trunk road programme, because the funding of the schemes would continue to come predominantly from that programme. While the European Council has agreed on the total funds to be available for TENs between 1995 and 1999, the allocation between years and individual schemes will be determined annually. There are no schemes in Scotland with planned start dates which would have made it appropriate to submit an application up until now. We will keep this matter under review.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if the EC Commission has announced that the A1 route from Edinburgh to Newcastle was omitted from a list of routes awaiting Euro-funds between 1995 and 1999; and if he will make a statement. [41683]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 6 November 1995]: My right hon. Friend is not aware of any such announcement.