Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will have discussions with the Leader of the House on making parliamentary time available for debate on a motion to formalise the point of truncation of Nothern Powerhouse Rail and the former HS2 Phase 2b; and what plans he has to (a) publish a supplementary environmental statement and (b) consult on that issue.

I will table a motion that would allow the High-Speed Rail (Crewe to Manchester) Bill to be adapted to deliver the Northern Powerhouse Rail between Manchester and the Parish of Millington and Rostherne shortly. The arrangements for a debate on the motion will be announced in the usual way.

The changes to the scheme will prompt a new supplementary environmental statement, which will be published in due course. As with previous environmental statements there will be a public consultation. Responses received to consultation will be analysed by an Independent Assessor appointed by parliament.