Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure (a), Northern Lincolnshire, (b) East Yorkshire and (c) other rural areas have suitable road infrastructure to encourage economic growth.

The Department and Highways England both recognise the importance of connecting rural areas to the rest of the country and invest in the strategic road network accordingly. Highways England’s strategic economic growth plan has identified the reliance of rural tourism and firms that deal with agricultural, raw materials or other large manufactured goods on its network. In Northern Lincolnshire, Highways England completed a £93million scheme to improve the A160/A180 Brocklesby interchange. In East Yorkshire, Highways England plans to improve the A63 Castle Street in Hull; a consultation on this scheme was undertaken in January 2017.

Other roads in rural areas are the responsibility of local highway authorities. The Department announced in July that it would define a Major Road Network, improvements to which could be funded from the National Roads Fund. A public consultation on the details of the Major Road Network and how funds will be allocated is due to commence before the end of the year.