Parliament Workbench
Data: Official Report to 12 Nov 2026

Official Report · Chamber

A96 Dualling (Economic Impact)

Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic

Wednesday 14 January 2026 Meeting of the Parliament Questions 5 contributions · 3 speakers Watch on Scottish Parliament TV

Speakers

Choose an MSP to read only their contributions

The record

5 contributions
Fergus Ewing Ind Inverness and Nairn
link

Presiding Officer, may I offer a humble, sincere and unqualified apology for not being present at the beginning of these proceedings. I have got that over with.

To ask the Scottish Government what discussions the economy secretary has had with ministerial colleagues regarding the potential economic impact of fully dualling the A96, in order to provide faster and safer transport links between the two key economic areas of north east Scotland and the Highlands, and to support the significant number of renewable energy sector jobs that it and Highlands and Islands Enterprise anticipate will be generated in the coming decades. (S6O-05362)

Kate Forbes SNP The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic · Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
link

We fully recognise the crucial role that transport infrastructure, particularly the A96, plays in supporting sustainable economic growth. Connectivity underpins so much of our economic growth and expansion. The Government’s current position on the A96,has not changed. It is still in support of full dualling of the A96 and it is currently progressing the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including the Nairn bypass.

Fergus Ewing Ind Inverness and Nairn
link

Does the Deputy First Minister therefore share my disappointment that the Nairn bypass and the section of the A96 that the Scottish Government has been committed to dualling since 2011 is not included in the league 1 list of development projects but is only in league 2—which means that there is no money for the Nairn bypass this decade? I asked the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government about that yesterday, and she gave an extensively equivocal answer. Does the Deputy First Minister agree that that failure is completely at odds with what she has just said about the centrality of decent transport links to achieving the Scottish Government’s economic ambitions?

Kate Forbes SNP The Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic · Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch
link

It is important to state that work has begun: the statutory procedures have been completed, the land is acquired and funding is included in next year’s draft budget to commence the delivery of advance works for the scheme. In parallel to those advance works, Transport Scotland is continuing to look at the most suitable procurement option for delivering the scheme.

On the status in the infrastructure investment plan, investment in the trunk road network over the next four years, which has been confirmed, will allow us to make further progress on dualling the A96, including the Nairn bypass.

It is important that the Government is able to follow up with Mr Ewing in setting that out clearly, so that he has the information that he is looking for.

Annabelle Ewing SNP The Deputy Presiding Officer · Cowdenbeath
link

That concludes portfolio questions on the Deputy First Minister’s responsibilities, the economy and Gaelic.

Motions, questions and votes

Linked from this item of the Official Report

In this meeting

Everything on 14 Jan 2026 →
  1. Deputy First Minister Responsibilities, Economy and Gaelic Debate · 1
  2. Mossmorran Task Force Questions · 4
  3. Mossmorran Just Transition Fund Questions · 16
  4. Ferguson Marine Questions · 7
  5. Gaelic Language and Culture (Young People) Questions · 4
  6. Glasgow (Economic Performance) Questions · 7
  7. Young People not in Education, Employment or Training Questions · 9
  8. A96 Dualling (Economic Impact) Questions · 5
  9. Pension Contributions (West of Scotland Local Authorities) Questions · 4
  10. A720 Sheriffhall Roundabout (Grade Separation) Questions · 6
  11. Budget 2026-27 (Prostitution Support and Exit Services) Questions · 4
  12. Employer National Insurance Contributions (Cost to Local Government) Questions · 6
  13. Non-domestic Rates Revaluation (Business Support) Questions · 6
  14. Business Rate Discount (Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Premises) Questions · 5
  15. Budget 2026-27 (International Development) Questions · 13
  16. PFI and PPP Payment Obligations (Local Authorities) Questions · 7
  17. Points of Order Procedure · 10
  18. A9 Dualling (Programme for 2035 Completion) Statement · 43
  19. Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill: Stage 1 Bill debate · 43
  20. Point of Order Procedure · 2
  21. Children (Care, Care Experience and Services Planning) (Scotland) Bill: Financial Resolution Bill debate · 2
  22. Business Motions Business motions · 3
  23. Parliamentary Bureau Motions Business motions · 2
  24. Decision Time Decision time · 4
  25. Football Members’ business · 56
  26. Correction Procedure · 1

The type of each item (debate, statement, questions, members’ business and so on) and the times shown are worked out by this site from headings, the chair’s opening words and the Official Report’s running timestamps. They are not the Parliament’s own classification. Text: the Scottish Parliament Official Report.