Speaking to Northern Scot reporter Lewis McBlane during a visit to Lossiemouth, First Minister Humza Yousaf denied claims that the Scottish Government secretly abandoned the 2030 deadline for dualling the A96.
00:00 We're absolutely committed to dualling the A9 in terms of the A96,
00:04 and of course the review is ongoing but due very very soon indeed in terms of climate compatibility.
00:10 But we have to make progress on both A9 and A96 because there are some sections as you know that are not affected by that review,
00:17 the Inverness to Nairn bypass as an example.
00:20 But look, the short answer to your question is no.
00:24 When we were absolutely clear about what was achievable and possible, then we were up front with Parliament and the public.
00:30 We were always going to push hard when we were told that timescales were ambitious.
00:35 It's important for a government to be ambitious, but I'm afraid cuts to our capital budget by the UK government don't make our infrastructure projects any easier.
00:42 So you mentioned there that the timings were ambitious and that you've always been up front about that,
00:46 but the Scottish Government hasn't addressed the 2030 deadline for dualling the A96 since 2020.
00:55 It's not something that's ever been discussed.
00:57 Yes, we're going through obviously a review of the sections of the A96,
01:01 so clearly whatever the outcome of that review is, will have an impact on cost, on timescale,
01:07 and of course the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, who I think was interviewed recently actually,
01:13 was up front about the fact that as soon as we get that review we'll make that public,
01:18 we'll make sure we share that with Parliament in terms of an update.
01:20 We'll always be up front and honest with people.
01:22 We have got a good track record of investment, particularly in the north-east half of the city,
01:28 but we also know that people's expectation around the A9 and A96 is there,
01:33 and we'll do everything we can to try and meet that expectation.
01:36 But the commitment to dualling the A9, the Perth Inverness, and of course the Inverness-Nairn bypass for the A96
01:46 is absolutely crucial for us to await the outcome of the climate review.
