Transport Secretary had final A96 review three months before publication

The Scottish Transport Secretary received the final publication of the A96 corridor review three months before it was made public, it has been revealed.

The review was already two years overdue when Fiona Hyslop delivered the findings to parliament in November.

It was ordered by the Scottish Greens as part of the Bute House Agreement to assess the project's climate impacts.

It was revealed earlier this year that the cost of the review spiralled to £6 million.

Ms Hyslop has revealed she received "emerging outcomes" of the review in February before receiving a "hard copy" of the report on August 28.

The report suggested including a bypass at Elgin and Keith and Ms Hyslop announced the government will be ditching the target to dual the road by the end of the decade.

A 12-week consultation process has been launched for public to have their say before the government makes a final decision.

Scottish Conservative North East MSP Liam Kerr described the revelation as "scandalous".

He said: “The veil of secrecy shrouding the dualling of the A96 should be a mark of shame for this SNP government.

“It’s scandalous that Fiona Hyslop knew the outcome of the review months before giving a parliamentary statement on the issue.

“Throughout this period, I, along with my colleagues, repeatedly asked for meetings with the SNP Transport Secretary to discuss timescales which were rejected.

“The SNP are trying every sleekit trick in the book to cover up for their failings on the A96, which is costing the taxpayer millions of pounds with no progress to show for it.

“Every day wasted adds to the fear faced by commuters, whose safety is being risked on a route that desperately needs dualling.

“Fiona Hyslop must explain why she chose to hide the A96 Corridor Review from the public eye for so long, despite numerous calls for her to release its findings.”

“The position of the Scottish Government has not changed – the current favoured position is to fully dual the A96 and we are already starting the dualling process from Inverness to Nairn, including Nairn Bypass.

Transport Scotland said its stance to fully dual the Aberdeen to Inverness road has not changed.

A spokesperson said: “As part of the then Bute House Agreement, the Scottish Government agreed to undertake a review of the corridor, a lengthy and complex process, which took longer than initially anticipated because of the huge interest and engagement from the public.

"The Review which has been published in draft for consultation extends to over 2,000 pages of reporting and clearly demonstrates the significant work which has been undertaken to inform future investment in this key transport corridor.

“It is important local people, businesses and communities are given the opportunity to help inform the government’s final decision on how to take forward improvements to the A96 Corridor.

“No decisions on the final outcome from this Review will be determined until we hear from the public and consider their views from this 12 week consultation. People have until 21 February 2025 to get involved.”

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