Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether the (a) route and (b) preliminary design for Northern Powerhouse Rail west of the HS2 Junction at Hoo Green has been determined; and how much funding has been allocated to that route.

Work on the NPR scheme between Liverpool and the Parish of Millington and Rostherne, is currently at strategic scheme development stage. This work is being carried out in line with WMS of 25 March, which set out that Northern Powerhouse Rail will develop a route that is in favour of serving Warrington Bank Quay and Manchester Airport and will use the previously proposed route between the parish of Millington and Rostherne and Manchester. A formal consultation on the remainder of the preferred route is expected to take place in due course.