Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether her Department has undertaken a cost–benefit analysis of (a) pausing and (b) completing the third phase of Midland Main Line electrification within the period covered by the Spending Review 2025.

Midland Main Line electrification was considered as part of the Spending Review, which prioritised investment across all Government spending, taking account of business cases and affordability, including cost-benefit analysis. Continuing electrification to Nottingham and Sheffield is lower value for money, partly due to rising costs and partly as a consequence of having already delivered substantial electrification. We will continue to keep this project under review as part of our longer-term pipeline of schemes.