Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of the Bradford Interchange operating as a terminus on the operation of the railway; and what options are being considered to help reduce network delays arising from reversing services.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The government is already working with Bradford Metropolitan Borough Council on station options, including consideration of the Bradford Interchange site, and has provided funding for business case development. We expect to take decisions on that by summer 2026.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how Great British Railways plans to work with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority on rail funding in Bradford; and what statutory role local transport authorities will have in shaping service patterns affecting the city.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Great British Railways will work closely with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, including on matters relating to rail funding in Bradford, through the statutory roles established in the Railways Bill and through a future partnership arrangement with GBR. GBR will be required to consult Mayoral Strategic Authorities where decisions on passenger services or rail infrastructure could have a significant impact on their areas. GBR will also have regard to their Local Transport Plans to ensure that local priorities – including how rail services interface with wider local transport networks – are fully considered.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what targets her Department has set for reducing rail journey times between (a) Bradford and Leeds and (b) Bradford and Manchester; and how those targets align with the objectives of the Railways Bill.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Northern Powerhouse Rail will seek to create a turn up and go railway for passengers from Bradford to travel to cities across the growth corridor, including improving connections to Leeds and Manchester.

The government is learning the lessons from HS2 by taking sufficient time to explore and develop options, and so building certainty in costs, outputs and benefits, before confirming decisions on details such as journey times. We will work closely with local leaders to do that.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of improved rail connectivity in Bradford on the economy, including its potential contribution to productivity, employment and housing delivery in West Yorkshire.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Bradford will be put at the heart of our plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail. Our investment in NPR will provide a catalyst for a major regeneration of Bradford’s Southern Gateway, which is planned to contribute thousands of new homes and commercial development. We will work closely with local leaders to help realise these plans.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether Bradford will be included in the core network of Northern Powerhouse Rail; and when a final decision on route options affecting Bradford will be announced.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

Bradford will be put at the heart of our plans for Northern Powerhouse Rail. The first phase of NPR, upgrades to lines East of the Pennines for delivery in the 2030s, will be focusing on electrification and upgrades that include the Leeds-Bradford corridor. We will also press forward with the work already in hand with Bradford Metropolitan District Council on a business case for Bradford station. We expect to reach decisions on the station by Summer 2026 and have made funding available to then move forward into detailed design.

The third phase of NPR will improve cross-Pennine connections, and the Government sees Bradford-Manchester as a key part of this overall programme. Further details will be announced in the future, once these have been worked through with local leaders.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to her Department's press release entitled Multi-billion-pound drive to transform rail and growth across Yorkshire and North East, published on 14 January 2026, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of the business case for a new train station in Bradford city centre; and what timetable has been set for (a) completion of the business case, (b) funding approval and (c) commencement of construction of the train station.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As part of the first phase of Northern Powerhouse Rail, we will press forward with the work already in hand with Bradford Metropolitan District Council on a business case for a new Bradford station. We expect to reach decisions on the station by Summer 2026 and have made funding available to then move forward into detailed design.

The government is learning the lessons from HS2, taking sufficient time to explore and develop options, building certainty in costs, outputs and benefits, before confirming decisions on details such as construction timelines. We will work closely with local leaders to do that.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how the expected delivery timescale for a new Bradford railway station compares with other major rail schemes in the North of England; and what steps are being taken to ensure those schemes are implementing quickly.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

As part of the first phase of Northern Powerhouse Rail, we will press forward with the work already in hand with Bradford Metropolitan District Council on a business case for a new Bradford station. We expect to reach decisions on the station by Summer 2026 and have made funding available to then move forward into detailed design.

The government is learning the lessons from HS2, taking sufficient time to explore and develop options, building certainty in costs, outputs and benefits, before confirming decisions on details such as construction timelines. We will work closely with local leaders to do that.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment has been made of the effectiveness of options to implement a direct rail link between Bradford and Huddersfield; and whether funding has been provided for the development of that link.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

We will be assessing options for Bradford-Manchester connections as part of the work done for the Northern Powerhouse Rail Programme on the Bradford station business case.

Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding has been allocated to the Bradford Rail Programme; and what further funding is planned to support (a) engineering and (b) design work during the Spending Review period.

Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)

The Government has allocated £1.1bn funding for Northern Powerhouse Rail in this SR period. This is the first funding allocation within the overall £45bn lifetime cap for the programme.

This funding will drive forward development work for the programme including taking forward the design for a new station in Bradford, subject to the business case process, with decisions expected in Summer 2026.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the estimated total Universal Credit expenditure is for 16 to 21 year olds who are receiving the UC health element, including the standard allowance and other elements, and for all ages receiving the health element, for each financial year since 2019/20.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, of the UC WCA decisions that resulted in an LCWRA outcome for 16–21 year-olds where at least one mental and behavioural disorder (F00–F99) was recorded, how many also had at least one condition recorded in any of the other ICD groups, excluding the no information available group.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The information is not readily available and to prepare the data would incur a disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the estimated expenditure on the health element of Universal Credit is for 16 to 21 year olds, not including the standard allowance and other elements, and for all ages receiving the health element, for each financial year since 2019/20.

Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The specific information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment her Department has made on the adequacy of funding for children with special educational need in Bradford.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

We are committed to reforming the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system to deliver an excellent, inclusive education for every child and young person, with a world-class curriculum and highly trained, expert staff at every phase of learning.

High needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND was increased by over £1 billion, or 11%, in 2025/26 and funding will continue at this increased level in 2026/27.

Total high needs funding will be well over £12 billion in 2026/27. Of that total Bradford City Council will be allocated over £139 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant.

Local authorities will receive at least £3 billion for high needs capital between 2026/27 and 2029/30, and we will publish allocations for 2026/27 in the spring. This builds on £740 million for high needs capital in 2025/26, of which Bradford Council has been allocated approximately £7.3 million.

When the Schools White Paper is published early in 2026, we will set out further details on additional funding for both local authorities and schools to drive forward reform of the SEND system.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether her Department plans to increase funding for Bradford City Council to support children with SEND.

Answered by Georgia Gould - Minister of State (Education)

We are committed to reforming the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system to deliver an excellent, inclusive education for every child and young person, with a world-class curriculum and highly trained, expert staff at every phase of learning.

High needs funding for children and young people with complex SEND was increased by over £1 billion, or 11%, in 2025/26 and funding will continue at this increased level in 2026/27.

Total high needs funding will be well over £12 billion in 2026/27. Of that total Bradford City Council will be allocated over £139 million through the high needs funding block of the dedicated schools grant.

Local authorities will receive at least £3 billion for high needs capital between 2026/27 and 2029/30, and we will publish allocations for 2026/27 in the spring. This builds on £740 million for high needs capital in 2025/26, of which Bradford Council has been allocated approximately £7.3 million.

When the Schools White Paper is published early in 2026, we will set out further details on additional funding for both local authorities and schools to drive forward reform of the SEND system.

Escalation of conflict with Iran

Essentials Guarantee

Funding for fire and rescue services

Government response to Israel’s West Bank annexation plan

Together Alliance

Public inquiry into Epstein links

New US sanctions on Cuba

Right To Food UK Commission

Food insecurity amongst workers in food processing, manufacturing and retail sectors

Local news journalism and STV regional broadcasting

Banning under 16s from social media

Changes to Right To Protest in the Public Order Act 2023

Billy Bremner Raploch statue

Found: MP, Simon Lightwood MP, Yvette Cooper MP, Andrew Ranger MP, Ed Miliband MP, Harpreet Uppal MP, Imran Hussain

Found: ministers@dwp.gov.uk HM Treasury 1 Horse Guards Road London SW1A 2HQ Imran Hussain