Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Antoinette Sandbach Excerpts
Wednesday 31st January 2018

(6 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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Again, the hon. Gentleman highlights the importance of cross-border connectivity. I would point him to the second road investment strategy for England, which will provide an opportunity to highlight the priority. A million people a week cross that border between north Wales and the north-west of England; 2,000 go to Airbus alone.

Antoinette Sandbach Portrait Antoinette Sandbach (Eddisbury) (Con)
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Does the Secretary of State agree that the UK Government’s investment in the Halton curve significantly improves rail services between my constituency and north Wales, and that there was a missed opportunity with the Welsh Labour Government in the failure to include that train line in the TEN-T network in the last round of European funding?

Alun Cairns Portrait Alun Cairns
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The Halton curve, which is approaching £18 million in terms of the spending cap, is an exciting project because it is a relatively simple, straightforward investment that will bring direct services to Liverpool again, improving cross-border connectivity, and releasing new opportunities for economic growth and development. We want to integrate it into both the north-west of England and the Wales and borders franchises.