Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on the (a) Union Connectivity Review and (b) needs of the A5 as a major trunk road from Bosworth; and what the timeframe is for publishing that review.

The Union Connectivity Review is an independent review led by Sir Peter Hendy. The Interim Report will be published shortly with final recommendations expected in summer 2021.

The focus of the Review is on improving connectivity between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and Sir Peter will be prioritising transport links that help to achieve that objective. The Review published a Call for Evidence in November 2020 to which several stakeholders with an interest in the A5 have responded.

These will be part of Sir Peter’s deliberations and will inform the development of his final recommendations. Highways England’s work to update its Route Strategies, starting this year, will also consider the needs of the trunked A5 and inform future road investment decisions.