McInnes Demands Clarity about Future of Edinburgh Airport Rail Link

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 13th Sep 2007

Scottish Liberal Democrat Transport spokesperson Alison McInnes MSP has called on the Scottish Government to come clean about their plans for the future of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link (EARL) project. Despite the Scottish Government making a commitment to heed the will of Parliament and progress the project, confusion reigns over the future of the rail link following conflicting statements and action from Government Ministers.

Commenting, Mrs McInnes said:

"The terms of the motion passed by Parliament were very clear. The Scottish Government was to progress the EARL project by resolving the governance issues identified by the auditor general.

"The Cabinet Secretary made a commitment that the Scottish Government would comply with the terms of this motion.

"I was, therefore, astounded to hear the Transport Minister's comment in the Transport, Infrastructure and Climate Change Committee (TICC) on Tuesday when he justified suspending work on EARL as a "way to protect the public purse and ensure that we do not allow the project to go ahead".

"The Scottish Government has plunged the EARL project into uncertainty and chaos. Ministers must come clean about their plans for the future of the rail link immediately."