§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list all dual carriageway schemes approved on the A1 between Edinburgh and the Scottish border since 1992, indicating the location, the estimated start and completion dates and the value of the contract involved. [5539]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 26 November 1996]Design work has been authorized on the following dual carriageway schemes:
£million Scheme Estimated start Estimated completion Expected value of contract East Lothian Haddington to Dunbar 1— 1— 35 Thistly Cross to Bowerhouse 1— 1— 1.35 Bowerhouse to Spott Road 1— 1— 2.8 Spott Road to Oswald Dean 1— 1— 2.8 Oswald Dean to Innerwick Early 1997 Late 1997 4.5 Scottish Borders Lemington to Howburn Early 1997 Late 1997 2.2 Howburn to Houndwood 1— 1— 2.8 1Construction will depend on progress with statutory procedures and/or the availability of finance.
In addition, construction work has been approved on the following: Scheme Estimated actual completion date Value £million East Lothian Tranent to Haddington November 1996 30.3 Scottish Borders Tower Farm to Penmanshiel Late November 1996 1.5 Marshall Meadows Extension August 1993 2.0
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his current policy on the proposed upgrading of the A1 to dual carriageway standard between Edinburgh and the Scottish border; when he estimates the work will be completed; and what other improvement schemes are currently under consideration in respect of the A1 between Edinburgh and the Scottish border. [5540]
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamilton[holding answer 27 November 1996]The A1 is Scotland's second most important cross-border route. I attach a high priority to upgrading the road and announced in 1992 the desirability to plan in the longer term for dualling. It is not possible to say when this work will be completed. Approximately 15.5 km of new dualling has been completed since 1992 and a further 25 km of dualling is being planned, but progress will depend upon the success of statutory282W procedures and/or the availability of finance. Scottish borders council has been invited to undertake further analysis of the road to identify the sequencing of design work on further schemes at this time.