The Scottish Government’s failure to confirm the dualling of the A9 and A96 is to go ahead as planned is a direct threat to jobs and investment in the Highlands and North East, Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston has said.
The Scottish Conservative MSP raised the issue with SNP minister Tom Arthur during exchanges in the Scottish Parliament earlier today, seeking assurance that the dualling would go ahead as planned. Mr Halcro Johnston was responding to Mr Arthur’s failure to answer former SNP Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing’s own question on the subject.
Mr Halcro Johnston said: “I listened with dismay to the Minister’s non-answer to Fergus Ewing’s extremely blunt question on whether the SNP are still committed to dualling the A9 and A96 as planned. Given his non-answer to me too, it’s clear that the price of the SNP’s coalition with the Greens is what we have all feared – that the A9 and A96 dualling will not be completed as promised."
“The North of Scotland desperately needs these infrastructure upgrades if it is to have any chance of creating the new jobs needed to provide a future for its young, talented people. If it is indeed the intention of the SNP to renege on its commitments, then it is disgraceful that it is failing to be honest with local people about those plans.2
“This issue will not go away and I will keep pressing SNP ministers about their intentions for the A9 and A96 until we get an honest answer from them.”
Jamie Halcro Johnston’s exchange with Tom Arthur can be viewed here (from approx.: 15:14:20): https://www.scottishparliament.tv/meeting/meeting-of-the-parliament-november-10-2021
Fergus Ewing’s question is at approx. 15:07:05
