Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what information his Department holds on the (a) total cost and (b) completion date of the proposed A75 upgrade programme.

As you will appreciate, transport matters relating to the A75 in Scotland are devolved to the Scottish Government. Nevertheless, the UK Government’s Transport Ministers and Department for Transport’s officials regularly engage with their Scottish counterparts on the recommendations made by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill’s independent Union Connectivity Review. This has resulted in the UK Government committing to providing up to £8m funding support to the Scottish Government for a detailed study to identify options for the realignment of the A75 around Springholm and Crocketford. In addition, as part of its Network North announcement, the UK Government committed to funding targeted improvements to the A75 which will be subject to the Scottish Government’s business cases at various stages throughout the process. Costs of any such scheme and associated delivery timescales will be explored as part of the Scottish Government's business cases development.