§ Mrs. LaingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the(a) road building and (b) motorway and trunk road improvement proposals and their total cost for each year from 1997 to 2001. [77764]
§ Mr. MacdonaldLocal roads are the responsibility of the local authorities. Details of schemes and expenditure are not held centrally. Total net expenditure for the motorway and trunk road programme in Scotland was £203 million in 1996–97 and £170 million in 1997–98. The estimated expenditure for 1998–99 is £155 million. Planned net expenditure for 1999–2000 and 2000–01 is £163 million and £176 million respectively. Major new schemes completed or due to be completed between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2001 are:
- M8/M9 Newbridge Interchange, October 1997;
- A1 Oswald Dean to East of Innerwick, January 1998;
- A92 Halbeath Interchange, March 1998;
- A96 Blackburn to Kintore, September 1998;
- A830 Polnish to Loch Nan Uamh, October 1998;
- A75 The Glen Improvement, May/June 1999;
- A74(M) DBFO, Spring 1999:
- A828 Creagan Bridge, Summer 1999;
- A86 Rubha Na Magach to Aberarder, Summer 1999;
- A1 Spott to Oswald Dean, Winter 1999; and,
- A7 Hawick Relief Road, Winter 2000–01.
From 1 July 1999 this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.
§ Mrs. LaingTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how many road(a) building and (b) improvement projects were cancelled in 1997. [77763]
§ Mr. MacdonaldNo trunk road schemes were cancelled by my right hon. Friend in 1997. On taking office, we announced a review of the Scottish trunk roads programme and imposed a moratorium on major schemes in the inherited programme with the exception of the A828 (Creagan Bridge) and the A75 (The Glen). Minor schemes and other items of trunk road expenditure were unaffected by the review.
From 1 July 1999, this will be a matter for the Scottish Parliament.