asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what improvements have been made to the section of the main north road A.9 running through Ross and Cromarty in the last 15 years.

The following improvements have been made to trunk road A.9 in Ross and Cromarty:Provision of Bailey Bridge, Conon Bridge,Improvements of level crossing, Craig Road, Dingwall.Minor improvements have been carried out as required under the trunk road maintenance and minor improvements programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the three main roads radiating from east of the county of Ross and Cromarty to the west, that is, from Garve to Ullapool, Garve to Gairloch, and Achna-sheen to Kyle of Lochalsh, are still almost wholly single track with passing places; and if he will improve all trunk and class I roads in Ross and Cromarty to a width of 18 feet as a matter of urgency.

I realise that some roads, trunk as well as classified, in the western part of the county have single-lane carriageways, with passing places. It is my general intention to provide the remaining single-lane trunk roads with 18 feet carriageways as funds allow—for example one scheme has been completed and another is starting on the Invergarry-Kyle of Lochalsh road west of Cluanie—but the standard to be adopted for the reconstruction of classified roads, much of which is planned under the crofter counties programme, will depend on the present and foreseeable volume of traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what share of major road improvement grants was received during the latter part of the post-war period by the county of Ross and Cromarty compared with the amounts allocated to the six other Crofter Counties.

The amount of exchequer funds authorised in the last three financial years for new construction and major improvements schemes on trunk and classified roads in the seven Crofter Counties was as set out in the table below: