Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits for communities and housing supply of delivering Midlands Rail Hub improvements.

Network Rail is developing an Outline Business Case for the Midlands Rail Hub. This will consider the contribution of the scheme to the Government's housing growth agenda in communities that will be served by Midlands Rail Hub.

The recently published Integrated Rail Plan (IRP) sets out the long-term plan for rail investment in the North of England and the Midlands, the development of the proposals for the MRH will now need to reflect the recommendations set out in the IRP.