The issue of upgrading the A75 has been raised at the Scottish Parliament again.
MSPs Finlay Carson and Emma Harper brought up the long-running problem with Transport Minister Graeme Day during a debate at Holyrood.
The Union Connectivity Review, which was published last month, included plans to “offer funding” to improve the Euroroute.
However, the Scottish Government said that while it would “seek to engage constructively” on the review, “UK ministers have no role in deciding investment on Scotland’s trunk roads”.
At Holyrood, Galloway and West Dumfries Tory MSP Mr Carson asked Mr Dey: “Why the Scottish Government is refusing to get involved in the union connectivity review is baffling to my constituents, especially given that 12 Scottish local authorities, the Welsh and the Northern Ireland Governments and, for that matter, the Republic of Ireland Minister for Transport have contributed.
“The Scottish Government claims that the A75 will feature in its strategic policy review but the people of the south of Scotland are growing tired of waiting and of this government failing to deliver.
“Will the minister commit today to working with the UK Government to bring much-needed upgrades?”
Mr Dey replied: “We are always willing to work with the UK Government in work that respects the devolution settlement which has not been the case in this and many other instances.
“The union connectivity review talks of offering funding to support the upgrade of the A75. We are quite prepared to discuss that with the UK Government with two specific lines of questioning to be explored.
“The first is on whether the funding would be additional funding and not top-sliced and repackaged existing monies. The second is on how upgrading would fit with the proposals for the route that are being considered as part of the strategic transport review process.”
Mr Dey said: “To date, no dialogue on that has taken place. However, there is an offer of a meeting, which I hope will take place in the not-too-distant future.”
