Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has undertaken an assessment of the potential impact on access to public services caused by the decision to cancel the A12 Widening Scheme.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Following cancellation of the unaffordable A12 Widening Scheme, National Highways is working with local stakeholders on potential smaller-scale interventions for this section of road. This work is considering existing safety, reliability and resilience issues, alongside future housing, employment and freight growth. These are important factors to consider to understand the potential impact on access to public services. This work is developing a phased approach to potential investment, with shorter-term operational improvements and longer-term options requiring further assessment before any investment decisions are taken.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will (a) review her decision to cancel the A12 Widening Scheme; and (b) re-evaluate the economic case for the A12 Widening Scheme.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Government inherited a series of unfunded road schemes in July 2024. Following the conclusion of the Spending Review in 2025, it took the difficult decision to cancel the A12 Widening Scheme, as it was unaffordable. There are no plans to review that decision, which reflected a range of considerations, including the scheme's economic case and its poor value-for-money.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Development Consent Order for the A12 Widening Scheme will be revoked.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department intends to take forward the statutory process for revoking the Development Consent Order. The timing of any revocation will be subject to completion of that process.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if she will review her decision to remove the A120 Dualling Scheme from the Road Investment Strategy.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
There are no plans to revisit the decision to remove the proposed dualling of the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey from the future major enhancements pipeline set out in the Government’s third Road Investment Strategy. National Highways will soon be commencing its Route Strategies process, which is the key evidence gathering mechanism to inform future investment on the network. The case for any future improvements to the A120 will be informed by this work.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to Note 27 of her Department’s 2025/26 annual accounts, what estimate she has made of the level of public subsidy to rail services in each of the next five years.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The Department regularly forecasts the financial support required for passenger rail services as part of its financial planning.
The precise level of subsidy in future years will depend on a range of factors, including passenger demand, farebox revenue, the cost of operating services and the delivery of planned efficiencies. The Department’s current plans assume that financial support to passenger rail services will reduce over the Spending Review period, as ridership and revenue increase and efficiencies are delivered.
Budgets for individual financial years are confirmed through the Parliamentary Supply Estimates process. The Government has not set detailed budgets covering all five years requested, as this period extends beyond the current Spending Review settlement.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the total costs of cancelling the A12 Widening Scheme.
Answered by Justin Madders - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
The current estimate was disclosed in the Department's 2025-26 Annual Accounts, representing costs incurred up to the end of the 2025-26 financial year. Any further costs will be calculated in due course.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when she plans to publish a medium term business plan for Greater Anglia rail services.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Greater Anglia's plans continue to be developed through the Department's rolling business planning process. Industry-wide planning is also in progress across Anglia Railway, ensuring that track and train are working together to deliver for customers. Business plans will be finalised in due course.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of the payments the Government will receive from the Greater Anglia rail services in each of the next five years.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
As detailed in the response to Question 91938, I expect Greater Anglia will remain a net contributor; exact income levels will be agreed during the rolling business planning process. Information on the operator's income will be published in the statutory accounts, available from Companies House, in due course.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what estimate she has made of changes in passenger numbers on Greater Anglia services in each of the next ten years.
Answered by Keir Mather - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
Over each of the next ten financial years, I expect Greater Anglia to continue to grow passenger numbers. Projections will be firmed up during the rolling business planning process, taking into account regional long-term planning assessments.
Asked by: Priti Patel (Conservative - Witham)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether she has made an estimate of levels of congestion on (a) the A12 between junctions 19 and 25; and (b) the A120 between Braintree and Marks Tey in each of the next 15 years compared to current levels.
Answered by Simon Lightwood - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Transport)
National Highways is currently undertaking a study on the A12 (junctions 19 to 25) that includes an assessment of current and future congestion levels on the corridor. This study is expected conclude by the end of this year.
National Highways is not currently undertaking a specific study to assess levels of congestion on the A120 corridor in each of the next 15 years compared to current levels.
The Local Plan process requires Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) to assess the impacts of proposed growth allocations, including impacts on the Strategic Road Network (SRN). The LPAs of Chelmsford, Braintree, and Colchester are all in the process of updating their respective Local Plans. This work is ongoing and continues to build towards a fuller understanding of potential future impacts.