Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to page 73 of the background document to the Queen's Speech 2016, published on 18 May 2016, what the £15 billion for transport across the North in this Parliament will be spent on.

Government is building for Britain’s future by making the biggest investment in transport infrastructure in generations.

We are building a faster, more frequent, fully integrated transport system that will help connect up Northern cities and towns, and support jobs – all of which help rebalance the economy and bring the country together.

In the Queen’s Speech debate on Transport and Local Infrastructure (19 May 2016), [Official Report, column 169] the Secretary of State for Transport confirmed that the government will invest £13 billion in transport across the North of England.

Together with our partners in the Northern Powerhouse, we have invested £1 billion in rail electrification which will mean more seats, and faster and more frequent rail services for passengers.

We are working towards a faster, less congested road network and that means a reliable motorway network. Government has committed £2.9 billion of strategic road improvements across the North for the five year period to 2020. £500 million will also be invested for Local Authority major schemes. Government has allocated £1.3 billion for local highways maintenance in the North of England.

Further details of how the £13bn will be spent can be found here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-boost-for-northern-powerhouse

In addition to this investment, the new Northern and TransPennine Express rail franchises will benefit from 500 brand new carriages, replacing the unpopular and outdated Pacer trains across the North. Government have also committed £75 million for further feasibility work on East-West road connections – one of the biggest challenges in the North. And most recently, following winter floods we have invested £180 million in the North to repair transport infrastructure, such as roads and bridges.