Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to deliver the Western Rail Link to Heathrow Airport.

My officials are working closely with Heathrow Airport Limited and the Civil Aviation Authority to reach agreement on acceptable terms, which are essential to the delivery of the scheme. Subject to a successful conclusion of these negotiations, Network Rail will submit the scheme’s application for development consent to the Planning Inspectorate.