asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what studies his Department has made of the consequences of the Ayr road route for traffic in Barrhead; and if he will make a statement.

The Scottish Development Department and Strathclyde regional council are jointly engaged in a study of traffic movements in the south side of Glasgow and beyond. Preliminary results suggest that, as a consequence of the construction of the Ayr road route and of other road improvements, the flow of traffic on the A736 through Barrhead could reduce by almost 10 per cent.