Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's timeframe is for the spending of the £500 million committed to the restoration of Beeching Cut rail lines, as set out in the 2021 Comprehensive Spending Review.

In January 2020 the Government pledged £500 million for the Restoring Your Railway Fund to deliver on our manifesto commitment and start reopening lines and stations.

The 2021 Spending Review settlement includes the £500 million RYR fund which starts next year 2022/23 and runs beyond Control Period 6 to Control Period 7 Year One 2024/2025.

Some funding has already been allocated to schemes through the programme. Earlier this month the Dartmoor Line between Okehampton and Exeter became the first line to reopen thanks to over £40 million of government investment.