Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings in the report entitled, HS2 Direct Connections Study, published by East Midlands Council on 18 December 2013; and if he will take steps to support the Midlands Connect initiative.

The report “HS2 Direct Connections Study” is being considered as part of the East Midlands Councils’ response to the Phase Two consultation that ran from July 2013 to January 2014. No decisions on the Phase Two route and station locations have been made. The Government intends to announce the way forward on Phase Two later this year.

We welcome partnerships such as Midlands Connect that are looking to maximise the economic potential of the Midlands and to make the most of HS2.