Monday 24th March 2014

(10 years, 7 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord McLoughlin Portrait Mr McLoughlin
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I am grateful to my hon. Friend. He is asking us to take on board the wider implications of HS2 across the area that it serves. I will certainly do that.

Lucy Powell Portrait Lucy Powell (Manchester Central) (Lab/Co-op)
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The Secretary of State echoes Sir David Higgins’s call for the benefits to be brought to the north-west and north of England faster. Other than the Crewe interchange—which I welcome, but which should not be seen as the only solution—what other avenues is he looking at? Will he speak to leaders of local authorities in places such as Manchester to bring forward funding and proposals sooner rather than later?

Lord McLoughlin Portrait Mr McLoughlin
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I am in touch with Sir Richard Leese, the leader of Manchester city council about the issues. Manchester has made some imaginative proposals on how the station should be built alongside Piccadilly station, and they are being looked at. There are good communications between the northern leaders and the Government on this issue.