Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

Michael Fabricant Excerpts
Wednesday 29th June 2022

(2 years, 4 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Iain Stewart Portrait Iain Stewart
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As I have just said to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, the removal of the Golborne link was because Sir Peter Hendy’s connectivity review had found that it was not the best way to address the capacity constraints between Crewe and Preston. However, we are looking at better options for it; we are committed to HS2, and I believe the line will help connectivity between Scotland and England and encourage a modal shift to more environmentally friendly forms of transport.

Michael Fabricant Portrait Michael Fabricant (Lichfield) (Con)
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With millions of tonnes of soil being moved across Lichfield, roads closed and the canal obstructed because of HS2, perhaps we can help Scotland by giving them our bit of HS2?

Iain Stewart Portrait Iain Stewart
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I know my hon. Friend is a doughty campaigner against HS2, but we have had that debate, I am afraid. I am always happy to discuss with him how we can optimise the building work. I am sure that my right hon. Friend the Transport Secretary, who is sitting next to me, has heard his representations. I am an enormous believer in the potential of high-speed rail links to transform the economic potential of this country.