It is with considerable sorrow that I must report that another person has lost her life on the A9. I am sure that all our thoughts are with her family.

Five of the six political parties that are represented in the Parliament, and no fewer than 122 of the 129 MSPs, support the dualling of the A9. Prior to my asking this question, of which notice has been given to the First Minister, I secured agreement from one member of each of the five parties, including myself, to put it to the First Minister. I very much welcome his appointment and his approach to work cross party. Therefore, will the First Minister meet the five of us to discuss how we can accelerate the completion of the dualling project and thereby prevent the risk of further fatalities arising?

First, I express my sadness at the most recent fatality that has taken place on the A9, and I send my condolences to the family of the individual involved.

As Mr Ewing will know from our long association, I have been committed to the dualling of the A9 from the origins of my first parliamentary campaign, for the 1992 election, in the North Tayside constituency, with the A9 passing through my local area.

Therefore, I have been pleased that this Government has delivered a number of improvements to the A9: the improvements to the Kincraig to Dalraddy section that were put in place; the improvements through the grade-separated junction at Ballinluig junction; the Crubenmore improvements; and, most recently, the Luncarty to Birnam improvements, with the road having been made into a dual carriageway. In addition, there is currently a procurement process for the Moy to Tomatin section, and we hope that that will be concluded shortly.

I want to assure Mr Ewing of the Government’s commitment to dualling the A9. I would be very happy to meet the cross-party delegation to discuss the issue and to explain how the project fits into the Scottish Government’s infrastructure plan and how the different steps that we have taken as part of the capital investment programme have delivered the improvements to the A9 that the Government has already delivered.