A96 Dualling (Inverness to Aberdeen)

Part of Portfolio Question Time – in the Scottish Parliament at 2:00 pm on 31 October 2024.

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Photo of Douglas Ross Douglas Ross Conservative 2:00, 31 October 2024

I am sorry, but that answer shows that the cabinet secretary simply does not get it. She said that the Government is committed to “improving the A96”, but the pledge that she and her colleagues were elected on in 2021 was to fully dual the A96 from Inverness to Aberdeen. Today, communities in Moray and across the Highlands and the north-east are looking for that commitment to be reaffirmed by the transport secretary.

On page 42 of its manifesto, the Scottish National Party said that the dualling of the A96 was required to ensure that

“the road network between all Scottish cities is of dual-carriageway standard.”

Does the cabinet secretary still stand by that? If not, why does she not prioritise businesses and people in the north-east of Scotland as much as she prioritises other parts of the country?