Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect of Midlands Rail Hub on (a) levelling up towns and cities in the Midlands and (b) the economies of (i) the East Midlands, (ii) Leicestershire and (iii) Leicester.

Following release of funding in July 2020, Network Rail is developing an Outline Business Case for the Midlands Rail Hub which will consider the impact of the scheme on the economy and productivity of the region.

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.